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Gudmar is a one of the valuable and priceless herb, botanically known as Gymnema Sylvestre belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae.The plant is commonly known as Periploca of the woods(English);Gurmar(Hindi);Meshashringi,madhunashini (Sanskrit).The literal translation of“Gudmar” plant name is “sugar killer” or “destroyer of sugar” as it neutralize the excess sugar present in the body. It also have one unique property – “after chewing the leaves of plant,the tongue is unable to taste sweets” which makes it best herb for the treatment of madumeh.
It is widely distributed in the tropical forest of Central and Southern India. Globally, it can be found in Malaysia, Srilanka, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, and tropical Africa. It is a slow growing,perennial, woody climber, whose leaves are hairy, simple, opposite and elliptic or ovate, the flowers are small, yellow and in umbellate cymes.
In Ayurveda, Indian traditional system of medicines sushruta, has described the herb as “madhumeh har” means destroyer of madumeh (diabetes). It is also one of the best plant which can be used to treat urinary disorders. It is well known for its antidiabetic, anti-sweetener and anti inflammatory activity. It helps removes sugar from pancreas, restores pancreatic function; it is also known to be useful for the treatment of swollen glands, cough, and fever. It is bitter in taste, and is
also useful in ailments of urinary, circulatory, digestive systems like stomachache, colic pain, and constipation, renal and visceral calculi. It can also be used as liver tonic emetic, diuretic, antihelmenthics, laxative, cardiotonic, expectorant, antipyretic and uterine tonic.