ROLE OF AYURVEDIC HERBS ON MADHUMEHA (DIABETES MELLITUS)

Sedentary life style and stressful mental conditions in the present scenario have invited many distressing diseases. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is described in Ayurveda as Madhumeha/Kshaudrameha, which literally means excessive urine with sweet taste like honey. The number of people suffering from diabetes all over the world is increasing progressively. Acharya Madhava described the term Prameha as repeated (Prakarsha), excessive (Prabhoota) and turbid urination which shows increase in terms of frequency and quantity. Ayurvedic medicine is oriented toward prevention, health maintenance and treatment of diseases. There is large number of drugs of herbal and mineral origin mentioned in ayurvedic texts, regarding the treatment of Madhumeha. Some herbal medications showing antidiabetic effects bring into being varying effects on the blood sugar levels with minimal side effects. The present review article was undertaken to explore the antidiabetic effects of various such herbs in experimental diabetes mellitus.