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Gurmar (Meshasringi) Gymnema sylvestre

In Ayurveda, leaves of this plant has been used to treat diabetes for nearly two thousand years.

This is a woody vine that climbs on the bushes or trees. It grows in western ghats of south India including Goa.

Names

Latin name: Gymnema sylvestre
Sanskrit / Ayurveda name: Meshasringi, meaning Ram's horn refering to the shape of the fruit of this plant
Hindi: Gurmar. Gur is sugarcane Jaggery. Mar means destroyer. Gurmar means destroyer of sugar. Immediately after chewing leaves of this plant, one cannot taste the sweet and bitter foods for about fifteen minutes. In other words, the leaves destroy the ability to taste sugar and bitter foods.

Ayurveda Properties

- Rasa: Astringent Pungent
- Virya: Heating Effect
- Vipaka: Pungent
- Guna: Light, and dry.
- Dosha: Balance or decrease Kapha and Vata, Aggravate or increase Pitta
 

Traditional Ayurveda uses

- Treat Type II diabetes. The extract of leaves lowers the blood glucose level
- The leaves irritate the bowel walls, and act as a non-habit forming mild laxative
- Treat somatic burning sensations, biliousness, hemorrhoids, and urinary disorders
- Help reduce fever, and relieve sore throats
- The root powder is applied topically for a snakebite