Overview

Salacia is an herb that is native to India and Sri Lanka. The root and stem are used to make medicine.

Salacia is used for diabetes, asthma, joint pain, weight loss, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Mugs made from salacia wood are used by people with diabetes to drink water.

How does it work ?

Chemicals in salacia seem to prevent sugars in food from being absorbed by the body.

Chemicals in salacia seem to prevent sugars in food from being absorbed by the body.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Effective for

  • Diabetes. Early research shows that drinking salacia tea with each meal might lower glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Other early research shows that taking salacia with food for 6 weeks might reduce blood sugar and HbA1C levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Insufficient Evidence for

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of salacia for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Salacia is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken for up to 6 weeks. There isn't enough reliable information to know if salacia is safe when used for longer periods of time. Salacia can cause uncomfortable side effects such as gas, belching, pain in the abdomen, nausea, and diarrhea in some people.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Salacia is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken for up to 6 weeks. There isn't enough reliable information to know if salacia is safe when used for longer periods of time. Salacia can cause uncomfortable side effects such as gas, belching, pain in the abdomen, nausea, and diarrhea in some people. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if salacia is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Salacia can decrease blood sugar levels. Your diabetes medications might need to be adjusted by your healthcare provider.

Surgery: Salacia might lower blood sugar levels. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using salacia at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with SALACIA

    Salacia might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking salacia along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

    Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of salacia depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for salacia. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.