Are Ayurvedic Herbs for Diabetes Effective? ▲
JFP_AE_Shekelle.finalREV 9/20/05 2:40 PM Page 876 APPLIED EVIDENCE New research findings that are changing clinical practice Paul G. Shekelle, MD, PhD; Mary Hardy, MD; Are Ayurvedic herbs Sally C. Morton, PhD; Ian Coulter, PhD; for diabetes effective? Swamy Venuturupalli, MD; Joya Favreau, MD; Limited evidence shows that some herbs and formulas Lara K. Hilton, BA have glucose-lowering effects, and deserve further study Southern California Evidence- Practice recommendations 82 and D-400 were most often studied. Based Practice Center which ■ Limited randomized control trial data Thirty-five of the studies included came includes RAND, Santa Monica, from the Western literature, 27 from Calif (PGS, SCM, LJ, IC, MH) and observational studies show that and Cedars-Sinai Medical the herbs Coccinia indica, holy basil, the Indian. Seven were randomized Center, Los Angeles, Calif fenugreek, Gymnema sylvestre, and controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 controlled (MH, SV, JF); and Greater the herbal formulas Ayush-82 and D-400 clinical trials (CCTs) or natural experiments. Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, Calif have glucose-lowering effects. But these Twenty-two studies went on to further (PGS) herbs are not as well studied as others analysis based on a set of criteria. Of more familiar to Western medicine. (B) these, 10 were RCTs, CCTs, or natural experiments, 12 were case series or ■ Inform patients who ask about cohort studies. There is evidence to Ayurveda that traditional practitioners suggest that the herbs C indica, holy basil, rely on the interaction of several com- fenugreek, and G sylvestre, and the ponents, of which herbs are just one, herbal formulas Ayush-82 and D-400 and that no formal studies have looked have a glucose-lowering effect and at Ayurveda as a whole system.
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