The second metformin alternative is berberine, or berberine hydrochloride, a chemical found in various plants, including goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and turmeric. According to research, berberine may effectively treat various illnesses, including inflammation, diabetes, and obesity.
An effective substitute for Metformin is a compound known as berberine or berberine hydrochloride, which is obtained from many plant species, including goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and turmeric.
Metformin, class biguanide, is a synthetic derivative of French Lilac (Galega officinalis), a herbal plant traditionally employed in Europe for diabetes treatment [23].
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Metformin can help with weight loss and reduce the size of your waist. Metformin can also improve fertility. It even helps people with certain medical conditions live longer.
HOMA-IR, an indicator of insulin resistance, was also significantly decreased by metformin and cinnamon intake. Moreover, no difference was seen in the ability of cinnamon and metformin in reducing HOMA-IR. As a result, cinnamon seems to be as effective as metformin in increasing the Insulin sensitivity.
It was found that hypoglycemic effect of berberine is comparable to that of metformin. The level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting and postprandial glucose decreased by 7.5%, 6.9% and 11.1% respectively at the end of the trial. Similar findings were reported in a clinical study of Zhang et al [28].
Berberine is an alkaloid found in the barks, leaves, twigs, rhizomes, roots, and/or stems of various plants, such as the barberry, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric. Traditionally, berberine has been used as an antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, and antidiarrheal agent in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
Berberine is a natural plant extract found in the roots, rhizomes, stems, and bark of several plants, including goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, philodendron, tree turmeric, and barberry.
Friedman experiences that berberine is quite well tolerated and probably better than metformin and works equally well if not better to lower the hemoglobin A1c in patients with prediabetes or early diabetes and also has the bonus of lowering cholesterol and has some anti-inflammatory and immune supporting properties.
Metformin has been referred to as a miracle drug due to its relatively low cost, minimal risks, and ability to ward off diabetes and potentially some effects of ageing. It is most commonly used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, but it has also been found to offer them cardiovascular benefits.
It contains high amounts of a chemical called berberine. The chemicals in tree turmeric might reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Tree turmeric is widely used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.
Making positive lifestyle changes such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting down to a healthy weight (and maintaining it) are the key to possibly reversing or managing type 2 diabetes.
More serious side effects are rare. They include severe allergic reactions and a condition called lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. The risk for this is higher among people with significant kidney disease, so doctors tend to avoid prescribing metformin for them.
Berberine is a chemical found in some plants like European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric.
The plants mentioned in this article — goldenseal, Oregon grapes, Chinese goldthread, barberry plants, tree turmeric and phellodendron — feature the highest concentrations of the powerful compound berberine.
Berberine has a high risk of interfering with drugs, and some of these reactions may be severe. When high doses are used, gastrointestinal upset may occur, and because of its ability to lower blood sugar, it can increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
and Warnings. When taken by mouth: Berberine is possibly safe for most adults. It's been used safely in doses up to 1.5 grams daily for 6 months. Common side effects include diarrhea, constipation, gas, and upset stomach.
Taking berberine supplements regularly appears to lower total cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol, and triglycerides in people with high cholesterol. It works differently from today's standard cholesterol medications, so it may help treat people who are resistant to other cholesterol-lowering drugs.
The mechanism for berberine extract is very unclear. For decades it has been a well-researched herbal treatment for intestinal infections, like Giardia, but it came with the warning to avoid long-term use due to the potential undesirable and antimicrobial effect in the gut.
Adding Cinnamon to Your Diet
In studies that found cinnamon had a positive effect on blood sugar levels, subjects ingested the equivalent of one teaspoon per day6—amounts small enough to easily work into a regular diet simply by sprinkling it on morning oatmeal, adding it to a chili recipe, or sipping it in tea.
Turmeric, mostly at doses of 500–1000 mg per day, might help reduce pain levels and inflammation. Cinnamon, on the other hand, has been shown to help reduce blood sugar levels. Since doctors consider diabetes to be an inflammatory condition, a person could benefit from consuming both cinnamon and turmeric.