Type 2 Diabetes – Is Betulin from Birch Bark a Future Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes – Is Betulin from Birch Bark a Future Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes?

In herbal medicine, birch bark is the Native American therapy for poison ivy, poison oak and mosquito bites. The chemical betulin, which makes up about 30% of the total weight of birch bark, is a well-known topical inflammatory agent. However, a recent research study in China has found that preparations made from the bark of this tree, common in northern China, southern Siberia, Canada and the northern United States, can also be taken internally to combat type 2 diabetes.

Betulin:Dr. Biao Liang-Sang and colleaguesShanghai Institute for Biological Sciencesreport that betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs). These proteins activate the physiological processes that form cholesterol, fatty acids and triglycerides. Using laboratory mice, they found that including birch extract in their diet reduced cholesterol levels even more effectively than lovastatin (Mevacor), which is an additional, very desirable effect. Research has shown that betulin lowers lipid levels in the blood, liver and fatty tissue.

Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin, i.e. h. Insulin resistance was also reduced. Mice with a mutation that makes them susceptible to atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with either lovastatin or betulin.

This is preliminary evidence that betulin could be very useful for type 2 diabetics. It could replace statins while reducing the need for oral antidiabetic drugs or insulin.

Birch bark tea:It's premature to give up any medications you're taking now, but you might ask your doctor about adding a cup of birch bark tea to your daily diabetes routine just to see what results you get. Science suggests that type 2 diabetics who follow a relatively high-fat (Atkins-like) diet would benefit most. Results published in the January 2011 issue of the journalCell metabolismalso showed that both betulin and lovastatin restricted the mice's weight gain on their high-fat diet and reduced lipids in their liver and fat.

Is Betulin a Future Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes?As described by Dr. Bao Liang Song at theShanghai Institute for Biological Sciences:“Our study shows that the SREBP signaling pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases.” He also says: "Although betulin appears to have very low toxicity, future studies need to further investigate the safety of betulin and its metabolic effects. We will also explore the possibility that a derivative of betulin could have even greater potency as a way to advance this clinically."

In fact, birch bark has an excellent safety profile. There are no reports in the medical literature that it can be toxic. However, as is often suggested, be sure to test, test, and test some more to know exactly how the herb affects your blood sugar levels.

Inspired by Beverleigh H Piepers