Ardha Matsyendrasana – Paschimottanasana – Dhanurasana
What is diabetes?
It is a condition in which either the pancreas cannot produce insulin or the body cannot properly use the insulin that is produced.
Now let’s explain this in Ayurvedic terms.
Insulin is the fire element that regulates blood sugar levels and controls how sugar enters the cells. Sugar itself represents phlegm or Kapha — think of it as a sticky substance. When you eat foods that are heavy, moist, and Kapha-increasing (such as sweets, bread, or rice), your blood sugar rises. The body then releases insulin, or the fire element, to digest and absorb this sugar and convert it into usable energy for the cells.
People with diabetes have a deficiency of this inner fire. As a result, sugar from food is not properly absorbed into the cells and remains in the bloodstream, filling it with undigested phlegm. If the body cannot eliminate this excess sugar or phlegm, it becomes prone to other health issues such as heart disease, kidney disorders, swelling, or infections. In Ayurveda, diabetes is described as the body’s inability to digest excessive sticky moisture or phlegm.
What to do?
The main seat of the fire element is the navel area — the region that contains the small intestine, liver, spleen, pancreas, and stomach. When the abdominal muscles are strengthened and contracted (as in abdominal exercises or yoga poses that focus on the core), these organs are gently massaged and stimulated. This movement helps secrete bile, gastric acid, and digestive enzymes, all of which ignite the digestive fire (Agni).
By practicing Ardha Matsyendrasana, Paschimottanasana, and Dhanurasana, the abdominal muscles contract and expand, stimulating the pancreas and increasing the fire element in the body.
What else can we do?
You can prepare a herbal tea that helps lower blood sugar levels.
Ingredients:
Fennel (or Angelica) 1 part
Cumin seeds 1 part
Fenugreek seeds 1 part
Nettle 1 part
Lemon balm 1 part
Rose petals ½ part
Coriander seeds ½ part
Preparation
Mix all the herbs (whole seeds or leaves, not powdered) together in the given proportions in a large container. You can use any measuring unit you prefer, such as one tablespoon.
Each time you prepare the tea, add one teaspoon of the mixture to a cup of boiling water and let it steep.
Drink one cup every hour, starting two hours after each meal.
For more home remedies and dietary guidelines for diabetes, visit the section on Diabetes.
Be full of health
Written by Setareh Kiumarsi
Please make sure to mention the author, “Setareh Kiumarsi,” if you share or republish this article, which was written with hope for everyone’s health and love.
