Diet Therapy for Diabetes: Part 5 of 5

NOTE: Following is the fourth of five excerpts on diabetes from one of Dr. Leung's earlier writings. This originally appeared in 1997 in Dr. Leung's newsletter, Leung's Chinese Herb News, Issue 11, page 3. -ed


In a recent issue of the Shizen Journal of TCM Research [Shizhen Guoyao Yanjiu,8(6): 553 (1997)], numerous simple treatments of diabetes using common Chinese foods or herbs are summarized by three doctors from the Caiyuan Municipal People's Hospital of Shandong Province. The following recipes are based on herbs/foods that should be available in Chinese or other ethnic stores in North America.

Machixian or purslane herb (Portulaca oleracea)


This grows in many parts of the United States and southern Canada. Here in New Jersey, it grows as a weed on many lawns and waste places. The aboveground part is used as a vegetable and salad green in many parts of the world. It is rich in nutrients (vitamins A, B1, B2, C, niacinamide, nicotinic acid, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, omega-3 acids, glutathione, flavonoids) and also contains high concentrations of noradrenaline (0.25% in fresh herb reported). It is considered cold-natured and has detoxicant and heat-dispersing properties. Traditionally, it is used internally to treat headache, stomachache, painful urination, dysentery, enteritis, mastitis, bleeding, etc. It is also used externally to treat burns, insect stings, inflammations, eczema, pruritus, and skin sores. Modern uses include the treatment of colitis, diabetes, shingles, and dermatitis. For diabetes, simply eat it regularly as a vegetable when in season or dry it for use in winter. It is a little tart and does not taste bad. Bon apetit!

These and more herbal remedies are available from the volumes of Dr. Leung’s newsletter, of the same name as this blog (Leung’s Chinese Herb News). This newsletter was published and sent to subscribers (most were industry-insiders) from 1996 to 2004. The collected works now serve as an excellent reference work, created with Dr. Leung’s frank, honest opinions and down-to-earth communication style.For more information about Dr. Leung and his writings, visit http://www.earthpower.com/. To order the newsletter containing the remedies mentioned above, visit the bookstore, click “Buy Now” on the newsletter, and select Issue # 11 from the drop down list.