PRAMEHAGHNA DRAVYA AND GLYCAEMIC CONTROL: AN OVERVIEW OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND CLINICAL EVIDENCE FOR SINGLE DRUGS USED IN MADHUMEHA
Prameha and its subtype Madhumeha are described in classical Ayurvedic texts with a long list of drugs considered to pacify them (pramehaghna dravya). Several of these are now used by people with type 2 diabetes, often alongside conventional treatment. This overview summarises the evidence from systematic reviews and selected clinical trials for seven commonly used single drugs: Methika (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Twak (Cinnamomum spp.), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Karavellaka (Momordica charantia), Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Meshashringi (Gymnema sylvestre) and Vijayasara (Pterocarpus marsupium). Fenugreek seed reduced fasting glucose by 0.96 mmol/L, two-hour glucose by 2.19 mmol/L and HbA1c by 0.85% in a meta-analysis of ten trials, with larger effects at doses of 5 g/day or more, but trial quality was poor. Cinnamon lowered fasting glucose by about 25 mg/dL without a significant change in HbA1c, with high heterogeneity. Curcumin produced moderate standardised reductions in HbA1c and insulin resistance in seven mainly Iranian trials. For bitter melon, a meta-analysis of nine placebo-controlled trials found no consistent effect, and positive results depended on analytic choices. Evidence for Amalaki comes mostly from combination products, and that for Meshashringi and Vijayasara from early or uncontrolled studies. Across drugs, trials were short and small, and few used classical preparations or doses. The current evidence supports a modest adjunctive role for some pramehaghna dravya, not their use as a substitute for proven treatment. We propose design standards for future trials.