--- title: "Natural remedies for high blood sugar: the herbs, checked" description: "Gymnema, cinnamon, bitter melon, fenugreek, ginseng and more: what NIH sources say about each herb for blood sugar, and how many of 13 labels use it." canonical: https://glucosebench.com/herbs-for-blood-sugar alternate_html: https://glucosebench.com/herbs-for-blood-sugar language: en-US last_updated: 2026-09-27 type: guia --- # Herbs for blood sugar: what each one has behind it, and how often labels use it 1. [Home](https://glucosebench.com/) 2. [Guides](https://glucosebench.com/guides) 3. Herbs for blood sugar: what each one has behind it, and how often labels use it Search for natural remedies for high blood sugar and you get lists of herbs. We checked each one against NIH sources and counted how often it turns up on the 13 blood sugar products we've reviewed. By **GlucoseBench editorial team**Updated September 27, 2026 ![Herbs for blood sugar: what each one has behind it, and how often labels use it](https://glucosebench.com/img/guia-herbs-for-blood-sugar-640.webp) Short answer No herb has reliable evidence behind it for controlling blood sugar. NCCIH, the NIH's complementary health center, says "We don't have reliable evidence that any herbal supplements can help to control diabetes or its complications," and calls it "very important not to replace medical treatment for diabetes with an unproven health product or practice." A handful, including cinnamon, fenugreek, Asian ginseng, milk thistle, astragalus and aloe, have small or low-quality studies suggesting some effect, each with its own caveat. On the labels we've read, the most common herb is gymnema (11 of 13 products), which has no NCCIH fact sheet; fenugreek, which has one, appears on none. Some of these herbs can push blood sugar too low or clash with diabetes medicines, so ask your doctor before adding any. ## The short answer, from three NIH sources NCCIH doesn't hedge: "We don't have reliable evidence that any herbal supplements can help to control diabetes or its complications." Bitter melon, fenugreek, ginseng, milk thistle and various Chinese herbal medicines have all been studied, it says, but the research "has been limited in the number, size, and quality of studies and hasn't proven that any of these herbal supplements are effective." NIDDK, the NIH's diabetes institute, puts herbs and spices on the same list as vitamins: there's "no clear proof" that any of them "can help manage diabetes." And MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, takes on the word people search with: "Many people believe that products labeled 'natural' are always safe and good for them. This is not necessarily true. Herbal medicines do not have to go through the testing that drugs do." There's also a fraud problem. NCCIH relays an FDA warning about illegally marketed diabetes products with claims like "lowers your blood sugar naturally," which "may contain harmful ingredients and the label may not tell you what you're actually taking." ## Herb by herb: the evidence and the label count "Products here" counts the 13 products in our 12 reviews. Cinnamon, berberine and bitter melon each have a full guide; this table gives them one line. Herb Products here (of 13) What the NIH source found What the same source warns Gymnema 11 LiverTox (NIDDK): lab and animal studies of the leaf extract "have shown hypoglycemic effects," meaning lower blood sugar. In people, it says several trials showed "mild decreases in fasting plasma glucose levels accompanied by increases in hemoglobin A1c levels" The entry is inconsistent on A1C: the trial summaries in its own reference list describe A1C falling, not rising. "The overall effectiveness in the treatment of diabetes has not been shown," products vary ("little standardization of purity and concentration"), and it's a possible rare cause of liver injury. No NCCIH fact sheet Cinnamon 7 NCCIH: a 2019 review found it "helped reduce fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance" "More research with standard cinnamon formulations is needed," and the coumarin in cassia "might cause or worsen liver disease." More in our cinnamon guide Bitter melon 4 LiverTox: trials found "only a modest effect on serum glucose levels" NCCIH: research "hasn't proven" it effective. LiverTox: it "should not be used in pregnancy or in women of childbearing age not using effective contraception." More in our bitter melon guide Banaba 4 No NCCIH fact sheet, no LiverTox entry, and no mention in NCCIH's diabetes page No NIH source to weigh the label against Berberine (a compound from plants such as goldenseal and barberry) 3 NCCIH: a 2021 review found it "may have beneficial effects on lowering blood glucose levels" in type 2 diabetes Mostly studies of Chinese patients, some "of poor quality," and it "may interact with some medicines." More in our berberine guide Ginseng 3: Asian in Glycovit and Glycotide, American in GlycoFortin NCCIH (Asian ginseng): a 2022 review of 20 studies found it improved fasting blood glucose in people with prediabetes and diabetes The research on blood sugar control "is overall inconclusive and conflicting," and because it "might lower blood sugar levels," people with diabetes should ask first. NCCIH has no page on American ginseng Astragalus 3: GlycoFortin, Glycovit, Glycotide NCCIH: a 2024 review found astragalus plus metformin "reduced fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C more than metformin alone" "Most of the studies, however, were of low quality and found to have bias." People with autoimmune diseases should avoid it Fenugreek 0 NCCIH: it "may help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes" "Many of the studies were not of high quality," and "Large doses may cause a harmful drop in blood sugar." Not safe in pregnancy beyond food amounts Milk thistle 0 NCCIH: a small number of studies show extracts "may help to control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes" The research was done mostly in Middle Eastern countries, and "it is unclear whether the same results would be seen in other parts of the world" Aloe, taken by mouth 0 NCCIH: "A small amount of research suggests" it may reduce blood sugar and HbA1c in people with diabetes With diabetes drugs, aloe "can cause unwanted side effects," and by mouth it "may be unsafe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding" Sources: NCCIH, "Diabetes and Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know" (last updated November 2023) and its fact sheets on cinnamon, fenugreek, Asian ginseng, milk thistle, aloe vera and astragalus (updated November 2024 to May 2025); LiverTox, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, "Gymnema" (October 28, 2024) and "Bitter Melon" (March 20, 2023). All read on September 27, 2026. Label counts come from our reviews; GLPro lists no ingredients at all, so it's counted as not listing any of these. ## Label herbs with warnings of their own ### Licorice (5 of 13) Blood Sugar Blaster and GlucoTrust list licorice root; GlycoFortin, Glycovit and Glycotide list monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, a licorice compound. None gives an amount. NCCIH says glycyrrhizin in licorice "can cause serious adverse effects, such as irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest, especially when consumed in large amounts or in the long term," and that even small amounts have been linked to severe effects in people with high blood pressure or heart or kidney conditions. ### Green tea extract (4 of 13) Insufend, GlycoFortin, Glycovit and Glycotide list green tea. NCCIH says "Although uncommon, liver injury has been reported in some people who used green tea products, primarily green tea extracts in tablet or capsule form." Green tea also contains caffeine. ### Turmeric (2 of 13) Glyco Pulse and Gluco Extend list turmeric without an amount. NCCIH says high-absorption curcumin products "may harm your liver," and that anyone who notices fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, dark urine or jaundice should stop and talk with a health care provider. ## Where the evidence is stronger If "natural" means without a prescription, the approaches with real evidence are food and movement, not capsules. NCCIH cites a 2019 review of 7 studies and 4,090 participants in which lifestyle programs aimed at "reducing weight, increasing physical activity, and following a diet relatively low in saturated fat and high in fiber" lowered the risk of developing diabetes. NIDDK says "regular physical activity helps people manage their diabetes and stay healthy," with benefits that may include lower blood glucose. If you already take diabetes medicine, the herb question is a safety question first. NCCIH says "Using herbal supplements such as cinnamon, St. John's wort, or aloe with conventional diabetes drugs can cause unwanted side effects," and "People who take diabetes drugs should tell their health care providers about any herbal supplements they are taking." And if a reading is very high right now, a remedy isn't the answer. Our high blood sugar guide lists the CDC's emergency signs and when to go to the ER. ## Frequently asked questions **What herb lowers blood sugar?** None reliably, according to NCCIH. Fenugreek, Asian ginseng, milk thistle, astragalus, aloe and cinnamon have small or low-quality studies suggesting some effect, and a few, like fenugreek in large doses, can drop blood sugar too far. That's a reason to ask your doctor first, not a treatment plan. **Does fenugreek lower blood sugar?** NCCIH says it may help lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, "but many of the studies were not of high quality." Large doses may cause a harmful drop in blood sugar, and it isn't safe in pregnancy beyond food amounts. None of the 13 blood sugar products we've reviewed lists it. **Is there a tea that lowers blood sugar?** None of the NIH sources we read names one. MedlinePlus lists teas among the forms herbal medicines are sold in, so an herbal tea carries the same thin evidence as the capsule. The one detailed gymnema liver injury case in LiverTox involved an herbal tea taken for type 2 diabetes. **Is gymnema safe?** LiverTox says side effects at usual doses are uncommon but may include nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, headaches and rash, that "its long term safety has not been well documented in humans," and that it's a possible rare cause of liver injury. It's on 11 of the 13 products we've reviewed. **Are natural remedies for high blood sugar safe with diabetes medication?** Not automatically. NCCIH says herbal supplements used with conventional diabetes drugs "can cause unwanted side effects," and several herbs, bitter melon and fenugreek among them, can lower blood sugar on their own. Tell your doctor about every herb you take, teas included. **Can herbs replace diabetes medication?** No. NCCIH calls it "very important not to replace medical treatment for diabetes with an unproven health product or practice." Keep taking what your doctor prescribed. ## Related pages Guides ### [Bitter melon and diabetes: what the trials showed, and who should skip it](https://glucosebench.com/bitter-melon-for-blood-sugar) Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), also sold as bitter gourd, has been studied for type 2 diabetes, and the NIH sources don't find it effective. Read more Guides ### [Cinnamon for blood sugar: why the type on the label matters](https://glucosebench.com/cinnamon-for-blood-sugar) Cassia is the most common cinnamon sold in North America; "true" cinnamon is Ceylon. Read more Guides ### [Berberine for blood sugar: the dose, the side effects and the fine print](https://glucosebench.com/berberine-for-blood-sugar) Berberine is a compound found in plants such as barberry, goldenseal and Oregon grape. Read more Blood sugar basics ### [High blood sugar (hyperglycemia): the signs, and the readings that can't wait](https://glucosebench.com/high-blood-sugar) Hyperglycemia means high blood glucose; for most people with diabetes, the NIDDK says blood sugar is too high "when it is above 180 mg/dL." The usual signs are feeling… Read more Updated September 27, 2026. [See our full method](https://glucosebench.com/how-we-choose) --- ## GlucoseBench - GlucoseBench, published by Grupo Marfre Automação e Tecnologia (Contagem, Brazil) - Email: contact@glucosebench.com - Home: https://glucosebench.com/ - llms.txt: https://glucosebench.com/llms.txt · llms-full.txt: https://glucosebench.com/llms-full.txt · sitemap: https://glucosebench.com/sitemap.xml