Gurmar is a perennial woody creeper with many branches. Eating the fresh leaves of this herb numbs the taste buds to the sense of sweet or bitter, hence the name literally means ‘sweet destroyer’(Gur-mar). It is a highly beneficial herb for regulating blood sugar levels.
Benefits of Gurmar: Diabetes, indigestion, hepatosplenomegaly, dyspepsia, constipation, jaundice, haemorrhoids, strangury, renal calculi, cardiopathy, cough, asthma, bronchitis, intermittent fever, hepatitis, conjuctivitis.
Action: Stomachic, bechic, expectorant, anti-parasitic, laxative, stimulant, aphrodisiac, diuretic.
Scientific name: Gymnema sylvestre.
Useful part: Leaves, roots.
Dosage: 5–10g per day.
Energetics
Rasa (taste): Bitter, astringent
Vırya(energy): Cooling
Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Pungent
Guna (quality): Dry, light
Dosa effect: PK−, V+
Dhatu(tissue): Plasma, blood, fat, reproductive
Srotas (channel): Digestive, circulatory, urinary, reproductive
Classical and common names
Ayurvedic: Mesasrngi, Madhunasini.
English: Periploca of the wood.