BANABA LEAF  (Lagerstroemia Speciosa)

The remarkable herb from the Philippines, banaba has been used for centuries as a traditional folk remedy. Many Studies have shown that the leaves are natural plant insulin. Most of the available research has been by scientists and researchers in the universities in Japan. One study in particular looked at the effects of mixing the dried leaf powder with chicken feed, and then analyzed the yolk of the chicken egg. When the banaba enriched egg yolk was fed to diabetic mice, their blood sugar level was normalized. In another study published by Dr. Yamazaki, professor of pharmaceutical science at Hiroshima University school of medicine, studied patients whose room was misted by the alcohol extract of banaba leaves while they slept. They found that as the person slept, their lungs received trace amounts of corosolic acid which helped regulate their blood sugar. Following Japanese research, Dr. William V. Judy at the South West institute of biomedical research in Bradenton, Florida, conducted clinical studies using banaba on diabetic patients. He found that the active ingredient, corosolic acid, universally lowered blood sugar levels in all patients. The higher the dosage, the greater the decrease in blood sugar levels. Yet another study showed an average of 20% decrease in blood glucose levels within 15 days in type 2 diabetic patients with an average fasting glucose levels between 130-200. 

There have been no reported side effects and has no known toxicity levels. Other medicinal properties of the banaba leaf are its anti-inflammatory actions, anti-bacterial effects, weight loss aid, and the significant protection of HIV infected cells. In Japan, the banaba leaf tea has become quite popular and many of today’s weight loss products include banaba leaves.

We recommend starting with one capsule daily, but higher doses my be necessary to regulate blood glucose levels. We encourage you to test your blood glucose levels frequently if you are using banaba leaf to control your diabetes.