Jambul Fruit
The jambul fruit, also known as rose apple or Java plum, is a well-known common fruit, grown all over India. It has been highly appreciated since times immemorial for its unique taste, flavour and colour. This fruit possesses anti-diabetic property. This fruit is regarded in the indigenous system of medicine as a specific treatment against diabetes because of its effect on the pancreas.
The fruit, the seeds and fruit juice can all be beneficially used in the treatment of this disease. The ‘jamboline’ Contained in the seeds is believed to have the power to check the pathological conversion of starch into sugar in cases of increased production of glucose. The seeds are dried and powdered. This powder, mixed with water, should be taken three or four times daily. It reduces the quantity of sugar in urine and allays the unquenchable thirst.
In Ayurveda, the inner bark of the jambul tree is also considered valuable in the treatment of diabetes. The bark is dried and burnt. This produces an ash of white colour. This ash should be pestle in the mortar, strained and bottled. The diabetes patient should be given 66 centigrams of this ash on an empty stomach with water in the morning and 1.33 grams each time in the afternoon and the evening, an hour after meals, if the specific gravity of the urine is 1.02 to 1.03. If the specific gravity ranges between 1.035 to 1.055, the ash should be given thrice daily in the quantity of two grams at a time.
Kidney bean or French bean
The beans are one of the most commonly used vegetables all over the world. They have several varieties. The most widespread and widely used bean today is the French bean, also known as common bean or kidney bean. Beans are high in carbohydrate and fibre. They should be eaten liberally to keep diabetes away and under control. Dr. James Anderson insists that the same foods that lower cholesterol and fight heart disease are excellent also for diabetics, who are at high risk of heart disease.
This especially means foods high in soluble fibre like beans. Dr. Anderson says more than 50 studies show that such high-fibre foods significantly reduce blood sugar along with triglycerides and cholesterol. Kidney or French beans are especially valuable in diabetes. A decoction prepared from this bean is an excellent medicine for diabetes. The procedure is to drink the decoction of French bean pods, one glass every two hours during the day. This decoction is prepared by boiling 60 grams of fresh kidney bean pods, after removal of the seeds, in four litres of water on a slow fire for four hours.
It should then be strained through a fine muslin cloth and allowed to stand for eight hours. The decoction must be made fresh every day, as it loses its medicinal value after 24 hours. This treatment should be carried out for four to eight weeks. It is, however, essential to follow strictly the prescribed diet chart.
The juice extracted from French beans is also valuable in diabetes. It stimulates the production of insulin. This juice is generally used in combination with brussels sprout juice in the treatment of diabetes. The patient must, however, be on strictly controlled diet.
Low-carbohydrate vegetables
All vegetables that contain less than three per cent of carbohydrates have been found beneficial in the prevention and control of diabetes. Some of the more important of these vegetables include cucumber, lettuce, radish leaves and spinach. These vegetables should therefore be consumed liberally by the diabetes patients.
Mango Leaves
The tender leaves of the mango tree are an anti-diabetic food. An infusion is prepared from fresh leaves by soaking them overnight and squeezing them well in water in the morning. This filtrate should be taken every morning to control early diabetes. In the alternative, the leaves should be dried in the shade, powdered and preserved for use when necessary. Half a teaspoon of this powder should be taken mixed in water or buttermilk twice a day.
Margosa
This tree is very common in India. It has played a key role in Ayurvedic medicine and agriculture since time immemorial. This tree is generally considered to be an air purifier and a preventive against malarial fever and cholera. All parts of the tree possess medicinal properties. The leaves of this tree are beneficial in the treatment of several common ailments. They also act as an insecticide.
The leaves of Margosa tree possess anti-diabetic property. The use of the juice of these leaves helps in controlling blood sugar in this disease. About five ml. of this juice should be taken early in the morning on an empty stomach for this purpose. This treatment should be continued for three months. In the alternative, 10 leaves should be chewed daily in the morning.
Some communities use dried tender leaves of margosa tree for the prevention and the treatment of diabetes. The leaves should be dried in shade, powdered and preserved in a bottle for use when required. This powder should be taken in small doses of one gram daily.