| Herb/Nutrient |
Action |
Dose |
| Oplopanax horridus(Devil’s Club) |
Adrenal tonic that has demonstrated a specific positive effect in achieving blood sugar balance |
1 g daily |
| Astragalus membranaceus(Chinese Milk Vetch) |
hypoglycemic |
2-6 g daily |
| Glycyrrhiza glabra(Licorice root) |
Prolongs the half-life of cortisol, thereby helping maintain consistency of blood glucose levels; antistress and antifatigue properties |
1-2 g root t.i.d.or 250-500mg extract t.i.d.Should be used with caution in patients with high blood pressure. |
| Eleutherococcus senticosus(Siberian Ginseng) |
Used in China for fatigue, weakness, depression, forgetfulness, and insomnia; known in the West for its adrenal and liver tonic properties |
2-4 g tid or 100-200 mg of a 1:20 extract (1% eleutherosides) |
| Silybum marianum(Milk thistle) |
Liver support |
70-210 mg silymarin tid |
| Dioscorea villosa(Wild Yam) |
Used as an antispasmodic in the West; used in Chinese medicine to “brighten the eyes” and as a tonicContains diosgenin, a precursor for cortisol, a key constituent required for blood sugar balance |
500 mg tid |
| Chromium picolinate |
Facilitates glucose uptake into cells as part of “glucose tolerance factor” |
200-5000 mcg daily |
| Pantothenic acid |
Helps with adrenal support |
1 g daily |
