PATENTED HERBAL-MINERAL FORMULA FOR TREATING DIABETES
U. S. Patent #5846544
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING FORMULA CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HYPOGLYCEMIA (LOW BLOOD SUGAR) IN AS LITTLE AS TWO HOURS, ESPECIALLY IF THE DIABETIC IS INJECTING INSULIN. CHILDREN ARE AT PARTICULAR RISK FOR HYPOGLYCEMIA WHEN TAKING THIS FORMULA. THE FORMULA SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED UNDER A PHYSICIAN’S SUPERVISION. IT IS ADVISEABLE TO REDUCE INSULIN BEFORE INGESTING THESE MINERALS AND HERBS. THE PATIENT MUST ALSO TEST HIS/HER GLUCOSE IN THE FIRST AND SECOND HOUR AFTER INITIALLY INGESTING THE HERBS. INSULIN MAY HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED DURING THE FIRST SEVENTY TWO HOURS.
Type 2 diabetics should be aware that a warning has been issued on sulfonylureas because they not only block potassium in the pancreas but in the lining of the blood vessels too. This causes narrowing of the arteries and eventual heart disease. The following explains as far as I can how the formula works. Please consult the directions before trying this on any diabetic as it can cause dangerous lows especially if the diabetic is on insulin.
The following formula has potential implications for insulin resistance (IR), diabetes and diabetic complications as nephropathy, neurophathy and retinopathy. The formula is based on the fact that diabetics have elevated levels of the neural transmitters glutamic acid and GABA. These elevated levels are known to play an important role in diabetic complications. The formula is based upon the hypothesis that once these neural transmitters are inhibited from excess binding to their receptor sites, diabetic complications will be ameliorated and better glycemic control will be established.
There has been quite a bit of research on the independent elements contained in this formula, especially GABA agonists like valerian and glutamate agonists as vanadyl sulfate, as well as bilberry anthocyanins, gingko flavones, MSM (methylsylfonylmethane) and of course, chromium picolinate. However, no one has put them all together to control IR, diabetes and its related complications.
Subject #1 was a non-obese type 2 diabetic, subject #2 was a type 1 diabetic, and subject #3 was insulin resistant (diagnosed with 10 times the normal amount of insulin). Subject #1 took no medication, only the following formula and his diabetes was well controlled so long as he followed the guidelines.
Subject #2 took the formula along with his insulin and was able to maintain an insulin level of .7 units per kg of body weight despite the hormone chaos of his teen years. After 15 years of taking the formula, Subject #2 remains free of diabetic complications.
Subject #3’s fasting insulin levels (normal values 5-25) were reduced from 248 to 16 (confirmed by a C-peptide test) without a diet or exercise. Subject #3’s acanthosis nigricans had been totally resolved.
There were about 20 type 1 and type 2 diabetics as well as 4 diagnosed hyperinsulinemics who have tried the following formula with great success. But before the patient plunges in, he/she must be aware of certain precautions.
IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS
If the patient is a type 1 or type 2 Diabetic who is on insulin, the initial dose will cause a SEVERE hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) reaction. One Type 2 Diabetic’s insulin dose had to be reduced by half within 24 hours. The Diabetic’s insulin was reduced from 80 units of insulin to 40 units in 24 hours. So, insulin reduction is advised BEFORE the patient starts the formula.
If the patient is a type 2 diabetic on sulfonylureas (drugs that cause the pancreas to secrete more insulin), the initial dose will cause a 20-100 point drop in blood sugar, but this will not be sustained. That is because the formula causes the cells to become VERY sensitive to insulin and the sulfonylureas cause insulin resistance probably by blocking potassium channels. So, the two formulas work against each other. However, type 2 diabetics who are on the formula and sulfonylureas have noticed great improvements in their retinopathy (eye damage), neuropathy (nerve damage) and nephropathy (kidney damage). That is because the herbs increase circulation, relax blood vessels (they are hypotensives), and strengthen blood vessels. Some type 2 diabetics have elected to substitute MSM for their sulfonylureas which they add to their herbal/mineral formula with great success. One’s Physician must be consulted before altering any medication!
Every diabetic should be familiar with the Glycemic Index (found on Rick Mendosa’s site) and the Heller’s diet aka the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet . The diet is a high protein/high fiber/low saturated fat/low refined carbohydrate diet. The food choices that are good for diabetics have glycemic index numbers lower than 60. However, moderate amounts of refined carbs are allowed into the diet provided there is plenty of fiber (like a large green salad) to slow down their absorption at the same meal. Also recommended is that the patient cease eating by 7:00pm.
30 – 45 minutes of exercise each day is important too
If the patient tries this formula, advise him/her to have plenty of orange juice on hand should he/she start to go hypoglycemic. Have the patient take the first dose in the MORNING (too risky to try this at night) and have someone with him/her during the day. This adivce is MANDATORY for anyone who is on insulin.
All herbs must be STANDARDIZED: 15-35% anthocyanosides for the bilberry fruit (not the leaf), 0.1-1.6% valerenic acid for the valerian, and 24% ginkgo flavones for the ginkgo biloba. NON STANDARDIZED HERBS WILL NOT WORK!!!!
The doses for the bilberry and valerian will depend on the brand and the patient’s weight. At least 80 miligrams is recommended for each bilberry dose. The valerian dose is determined by the amount of valerenic acid in a particular brand.
All herbs used in this formula have been listed by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) as GRAS or generally recognized as safe.
Discontinuing this formula will cause a return of hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.
If the patient wishes to take extra vitamins and minerals, he must take them BEFORE BREAKFAST. Any multivitamin/mineral tablet should NOT contain iron. Also recommended are 350 mg magnesium and a good multivitamin & mineral tablet that does NOT contain iron. Iron often causes hyperglycemia. These nutrients do not have a direct effect on the formula but they are important in treating diabetic complications.
The patient must allow the herbs to absorb for at least one hour after ingestion before eating again. The patient should eat nothing after taking the evening dose unless he is hypoglycemic or his/her blood sugar is not sufficiently high to avoid hypoglycemia while she/he is asleep.
Valerian when taken with the following herbs and minerals DOES NOT INDUCE SLEEP. All diabetics who take the following formula report a feeling of well-being.
The following formula must be taken as written. Herbs and minerals cannot be interchanged, excluded or included. The MSM is optional.
THE FORMULA
INGREDIENTS: Ginkgo Biloba, Bilberry, Valerian, MSM (methyl-slulfonyl-methane), Vanadyl Sulfate and Chromium Picolinate
The Biochem brand of Vanadyl Sulfate is recommended because of its low dose.
ONE HOUR AFTER BREAKFAST WITH WATER ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
60mg Gingko Biloba, 1 or 2 caps valerian, 1 or 2 caps bilberry, 1000 – 2000mg MSM, 5-10mg Vanadyl Sulfate
The amount of valerian and bilberry will depend on the brand and the patients weight. Young, slim patients (under 150 pounds) generally do not need more that one cap each of bilberry and valerian for the morning dose.
ONE HOUR AFTER DINNER WITH WATER ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
60mg Ginkgo Biloba, 2 caps valerian, 2 caps bilberry, 1000 – 2000mg MSM, 200mcg chromium picolinate
The standardized herbs, ginkgo biloba, valerian, bilberry, MSM, vanadyl sulfate and chromium picolinate, can be found at any pharmacy or at any good health food store.
Why the formula works:
Diabetics are known to have high levels of the neural transmitters GABA (gama aminobyutirc acid) and glutamic acid ( JAMA article of Sept 1997). Valerian is a GABA inhibitor and preserver. Valerian prevents GABA from binding to the GABA A receptor site.
“Valerenic acid 5a has also been found to inhibit the enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of GABA” (Unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies by Teresa Bailey Klepser and Michael E. Klepser at www.ashp.org/public/pubs/ajtp/vol56/num02/creview.htm). The freed GABA acts like gabapentin, a drug prescribed for diabetic neuropathy. Valerian also contains hypotensive agents as well as hepatoprotectives and is thought to act through the liver.
There is research that demonstrates the efficacy of GABA agonists on diabetes. The drug diazepam (valium), a GABA A agonist, was shown to increase insulin plasma concentrations in diabetic rats to levels similar to the ones of non-diabetic animals. Valerian is a GABA agonist but is not addictive. When taken with the formula, valerian does not cause drowsiness. All diabetics on this formula have reported a feeling of well being.
Bilberry anthocyanins contain some of the most powerful antioxidants in the plant kingdom. Bilberry antioxidants are more powrful than ascorbic acid in the protection of LDL (low density lipoprotein) particles from oxidative stress. Bilberry is thus a powerful free radical scavenger. Cyanin compounds are also used by neural researchers to inhibit the binding of glutamic acid to neural receptor sites. Bilberry is also a hypotensive as well as a blood vessel strengthener.
Ginkgo is noted for its ability to increase blood circulation and has protective effects against glutamate induced neuronal damage. The combination of bioflavenoids in these herbs seems to have a strong influence on cell sensitivity to insulin.
MSM or methyl-sulfonyl-methane is a derivative of DMSO(dimethyl sulfone) and a naturally occuring mineral in all plants and animals. It is totally non-toxic even when ingested in large amounts. It increases cell sensitivity and insulin concentrations in bloodplasma. It appears to be useful as an alternative for sufonylureas when taken with the above formula of herbs and minerals. Sulfonylreas have been found to block potassium in the cells lining the blood vessels which causes narrowing of the blood vessels and heart disease.
Vanadium or vanadyl sulfate reduces plasma glucose by enhancing insulin sensitivity. Thus, vanadium preserves beta-cells in STZ induced diabetes at least partially by abolishing the insulin hypersecretory response and the eventual exhaustion of residual insulin stores following a moderate dose of STZ. This property of vanadium would apear to be useful in the treatment of prediabetic and newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In addition, research on rabbit hepatocytes indicates that vanadyl sulfate is a powerful inhibitor of glutamate metabolism in the liver.
Chromium is an essential nutrient involved in the metabolism of glucose, insulin and blood lipids. Chromium increases insulin binding to cells, insulin receptor numbers and activates insulin receptor kinase leading to increased insulin sensitivity. The combination of these minerals and the compounds contained in these herbs makes for a powerful yet biologically safe herbal formula for controlling hyperinsulinemism and diabetes. The phytochemicals in these herbs can be researched in Dr. Jim Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Database on the Web.
IT IS MANDATORY THAT A PHYSICIAN BE CONSULTED BEFORE TRYING THE ABOVE FORMULA.