What is Gymnema sylvestre?

Gymnema sylvestre is a woody plant that grows in Southeast Asia and India, where the roots, leaves, and stems have all been used for many years in the ayurvedic system of medicine. In Ayurvedic medicine, GS is used for an array of conditions, including asthma, gastrointestinal complaints, urinary infections, snake bites, and as an antibiotic. Traditionally, it may be used to treat poisoning, abdominal pain, and skin rashes. Its most well-known use, however, has always been as an agent to reduce blood sugar. While Gymnemna sylvestre is still used in Ayurvedic medicine for all of these purposes, its potential to reduce blood sugar has made it a popular supplement in more recent times, where it is often used in people with diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.^[1]