Diabetes was Re: [Herbalist] Aloh

[Tara]

> My question - I've never found anything citing the use of whole psyllium to
> help regulate sugar problems - has anyone else ever heard of it being used
> for that?

What the BioNutritional Encyclopedia says is:

Helps to control the increase of blood sugar (glucose) levels after
eating.

References:
1.  Cherbut C, Des Varannes SB, Schnee M, Rival M, Galmiche JP,
Delort-Laval J. Involvement of small intestinal motility in blood
glucose response to dietary fibre in man. British Journal of Nutrition.
1994; 71:675-685.
2.  Wolever TMS, Vuksan V, Eshuis H, Spadafora P, Peterson RD, Chao ESM,
Storey ML, Jenkins DJA. Effect of method of administration of psyllium
on glycemic response and carbohydrate digestibility. Journal of the
American College of Nutrition. 1991; 10(4):364-371.
3.  Pastors JG, Blaisdell PW, Balm TK, Asplin CM, Pohl SL. Psyllium
fiber reduces rise in postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in
patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition. 1991; 53:1431-1435.
4.  Anderson JW, Allgood LD, Turner J, Oeltgen PR, Daggy BP. Effects of
psyllium on glucose and serum lipid responses in men with type 2
diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70:466-473.
5.  Welsh JD, Manion CV, Griffiths WJ, Bird PC. Effect of psyllium
hydrophilic mucilloid on oral glucose tolerance and breath hydrogen in
postgastrectomy patients. Digestive Diseases and Sciences 1982;27(1,
Jan):7-12.

Their review board (a killer review board - I know these men and women,
they take no prisoners) rated this statement and evidence as
"Substantial," thier second highest rating.  It's not clear from the
abstract summaries if these studies used whole seed or the ground husks.

They also spoke extremely highly of Gymnema Sylvestre, Magnesium, and
Wheat Bran (all rated "Strongest" - their highest rating,) and
Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Oat Bran and Vanadyl Sulfate (all "Substantial") for
control of Diabetes.

BioNutritional Encyclopedia is produced the company for whom I worked
for 10 months, and am now free-lancing for.  They are pretty darned
cool.  Of course, they depend on whether or not somebody has done
*research* on a particular supplement for a particular use in order to
rate it, which sometimes means that a popular herb or supplement may get
a low rating.  That means that there is no science, not neccisarily that
the science has disproven something.  But, when studies are done, the
board is very rigorous in it's review of them, and I take view their
ratings very highly.

So, yes - psyllium is very good for diabetes!

-Magdalena