Does gymnema stop sugar cravings?

It dulls the taste of sweetness for a short time after chewing the leaf. I know of no good trials that show it reduces cravings in the longer run.

Can I take gymnema if I have diabetes?

Please speak to your GP or practitioner first. Gymnema may lower blood glucose, which could add to the effect of your medication. Never stop or change diabetes medication on your own.

Is gymnema safe for people without diabetes?

It is generally regarded as well tolerated, though lower blood sugar between meals is possible in theory, particularly if you eat very little. If you feel shaky, sweaty or faint, stop and speak to a practitioner.

Why is it called the sugar destroyer?

The Hindi name gurmar refers to the leaf's effect on sweet taste. It does not mean the herb destroys sugar in the body.

Is gymnema safe in pregnancy?

Safety is not established, and the EarthWise guidance advises against Adrenal Guard in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Gymnema: What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use It

Sarah Burt

Oct 14

6 min read

Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) is a woody climbing plant from India whose leaves have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Its Hindi name, gurmar, means sugar destroyer, and the leaf has the odd property of dulling the taste of sweetness for a short time after you chew it. The herb has a long traditional use around sweet cravings and blood sugar, a small body of human research and a safety point that matters a great deal for anyone on diabetes medication. It is one of the four herbs in the EarthWise Adrenal Guard tonic.

Close-up of Gymnema leaves on a plant, with water droplets and a soft blurred garden background.

What it is

Gymnema is a perennial woody vine in the Apocynaceae family, native to the tropical forests of India, and also found in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. It climbs by twining around other plants, with oval, pointed leaves and clusters of small yellow flowers. The leaf is the part used in herbal medicine.

In Ayurveda it has been used for a long time as a herb for what is known in that tradition as sweet urine, an old description of what we now call diabetes. This is the root of the gurmar name. I regard this history as a reason for the herb's continuing use and not as evidence that it works.

A buyer's note worth reading. Check that the label names the leaf and gives the Latin name Gymnema sylvestre. Many supplements are standardised to a percentage of gymnemic acids, the compounds thought to be responsible for most of its activity, and the number on the label tells you about concentration and not about how well the product will work. Products from different suppliers vary a good deal, and that makes results from one study hard to apply to another product.

The active compounds

Gymnema leaves contain a group of compounds called gymnemic acids, which are triterpene saponins. They also contain gymnemagenin, flavonoids and other plant compounds.

Taste and sweetness. Gymnemic acids are the reason the leaf dulls sweet taste. They are thought to interact with the taste receptors for sweetness on the tongue, and the effect fades after a short time. It has led to interest in the herb for sweet cravings, though I know of no good trials that show it reduces cravings.

Glucose handling. Laboratory and animal studies suggest that gymnemic acids may slow the absorption of sugar from the gut and may influence insulin release. These are mostly cell and animal findings, and how well they reflect what happens in a person taking the herb by mouth is not established.

How it is traditionally used

Gymnema is a traditional Ayurvedic herb, used for many centuries in India. I am not aware of an EU herbal monograph for it, which means there is no formal European assessment of traditional use, doses or safety for me to point to. That is one reason I regard the information in this guide as less settled than it is for herbs that have one.

In Western herbal practice, gymnema is used to support healthy blood sugar patterns and to help with sweet cravings, often alongside Cinnamon and other herbs. That is the logic behind its place in Adrenal Guard.

What the research shows

Gymnema has been studied more than some herbs in this library, though most of the human studies are small, short or uncontrolled. Here is how the evidence reads.

Early evidence: blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. A study in India (Baskaran and colleagues, 1990) gave 22 people with type 2 diabetes who were already taking conventional oral medication a leaf extract called GS4, at 400 mg a day for 18 to 20 months. Blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin fell, and the doses of conventional medication could be lowered. Five of the 22 people stopped their conventional medication and kept their blood glucose in control. This is an interesting result, but the study was small and the report does not describe a control group, so I regard it as a reason to run better trials and no more than that.

Traditional evidence: sweet cravings and blood sugar support. This is the main basis for the herb's use.

Safety evidence. Gymnema is generally regarded as well tolerated in the studies that exist. The important point is that it may lower blood glucose, so people who take medication for diabetes could in theory find that their medication has a stronger effect, with a risk of low blood sugar.

Sarah's clinical perspective

I use Gymnema in Adrenal Guard as a tincture alongside Holy Basil, Siberian Ginseng and Cinnamon. Its place in the formula is tied to the blood sugar side of the picture, which is one of the drivers of energy dips.

I am careful with anyone managing diabetes or insulin resistance, and I ask anyone taking medication for diabetes, blood sugar or blood pressure to speak to their GP or practitioner before using it, because Gymnema and Cinnamon may influence glucose levels.

Practical guidance

Dose. There is no established tincture dose and no EU monograph to cite. The study I have described used 400 mg a day of a leaf extract. That is the amount used in a study, and it is not a dosing instruction for any particular product.

Format. A tincture, a capsule of leaf extract or a dried leaf tea are the usual forms. Chewing the leaf or sipping the tea shows the sweet-dulling effect quickly.

Time to effect. There is no clinical timeline. The study I have described ran for more than a year, and herbalists generally allow several weeks to judge a response.

Timing. With or before meals is the usual suggestion, since the herb is traditionally linked to meals and sweet foods.

What it does not replace. Gymnema does not replace medical care for diabetes or any blood sugar concern. Extreme thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, or shakiness and sweating between meals need a GP.

For how to take the EarthWise tonic specifically, the dose and full safety information are on the product page.

Common questions

Does gymnema stop sugar cravings? It dulls the taste of sweetness for a short time after chewing the leaf. I know of no good trials that show it reduces cravings in the longer run.
Can I take gymnema if I have diabetes? Please speak to your GP or practitioner first. Gymnema may lower blood glucose, which could add to the effect of your medication. Never stop or change diabetes medication on your own.
Is gymnema safe for people without diabetes? It is generally regarded as well tolerated, though lower blood sugar between meals is possible in theory, particularly if you eat very little. If you feel shaky, sweaty or faint, stop and speak to a practitioner.
Why is it called the sugar destroyer? The Hindi name gurmar refers to the leaf's effect on sweet taste. It does not mean the herb destroys sugar in the body.
Is gymnema safe in pregnancy? Safety is not established, and the EarthWise guidance advises against Adrenal Guard in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Where gymnema appears in the EarthWise range

Gymnema is one of the four herbs in Adrenal Guard, Sarah's formula for energy and blood sugar support, where it sits with Holy Basil, Siberian Ginseng and Cinnamon.

If you are not sure which formula fits, the EarthWise health quiz is the best place to start. Full safety information is on each product page.

When to seek professional support

Gymnema has a real effect on glucose in some people. Check with a practitioner first in these situations:

Diabetes, insulin resistance or any medication for blood sugar. Gymnema may add to the effect of the medication, with a risk of low blood sugar.
Medication for blood pressure. The EarthWise Adrenal Guard guidance asks for advice first.
Surgery coming up. Because gymnema may influence blood glucose, let the surgical team know you take it.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Not recommended.
Symptoms of low blood sugar. Shakiness, sweating, confusion or faintness need prompt attention, and an emergency service if severe.
Symptoms of high blood sugar. Extreme thirst, frequent urination or unexplained weight loss need a GP.
Under 18. There is no guidance on use in children and adolescents, so I would not use it without a practitioner.

Sarah Burt is a registered naturopath, medical herbalist and iridologist with 25+ years of clinical experience. All EarthWise tonics are formulated by Sarah based on her clinical protocols.

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This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any health condition. Always consult a qualified health practitioner before making changes to your health regimen.