A SAMPLE HERBS FROM INDIA FORMULA:
KARNIM

by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon

Karnim is the designation of one of twelve Herbs from India tablet formulas introduced by ITM and provided by prescription, mainly through Ayurvedic practitioners, naturopathic physicians, and acupuncturists. ITM also makes available an herbal honey (Chyawanprash), herbal syrup (Unicough), massage oils (Panchgun, Narayan, Brahmi, and Chandanbala), and nose drops (Nasya Drops, Sinus Support).

This formula was developed by the Ayurvedic specialists at Universal Medicaments, a large herb and medicines supplier in Nagpur. Universal Medicaments is a GMP-certified factory with capacity to produce:

The name Karnim is derived from two of its key ingredients, Karella and Nim (also spelled Neem). The 6-herb formula (see below, from A Bag of Pearls) is based on traditional Ayurvedic principles, but is a new combination of herbs designed to help alleviate a problem that is prevalent in modern times: late onset diabetes. In most cases, this disorder arises in people who are over 50 years old, have a sedentary life style, and eat food that is too rich; obesity is a common coexisting problem.

The herbs of Karnim are bitter and spicy, and they stimulate the digestive functions. They help prevent the stagnation and accumulation that occurs when the digestive system has been overwhelmed by years of poor eating. Further, they stimulate the metabolism to regulate the blood contents of sugars and lipids. For example processed myrrh, called guggul, is one of the ingredients of Karnim that is highly respected for its ability to reduce blood lipids.

Karnim became a widely used remedy in India twenty years ago; it has been subjected to extensive research in India, indicating its therapeutic benefits. Karnim is usually produced in capsules of 400 mg each. The same material is imported to the U.S. and made into caplets, with 500 mg each (to reflect the needs of Americans who have higher average body weight than the people of India), and a somewhat higher dosage recommendation. It is used worldwide as a supplement to oral hypoglycemics and injected insulin when diabetes is not fully or adequately controlled.

Formula for controlling blood sugar and lipids. karela Momordica 37% nim Neem 19% tulsi Basil 19% kulki Picrorrhiza 9% guggul Myrrh 9% sounth Ginger 7% BASIS Karnim has two basic functions. First, the bitter herbs, momordica, neem, and picrorrhiza, help to drain excess kapha; second, the warming, spicy herbs, ginger, myrrh, and basil, increase digestive fire, promoting overall metabolism (pitta). INDICATIONS FOR USE diabetes (late onset), obese constitution, hyperlipidemia, sinus congestion MANUFACTURING The ingredients are extracted and dried, then made into caplets of 500 mg each, with 120/bottle. RELEVANT SEVEN FORESTS FORMULAS Lotus Leaf Tablets for obesity and hyperlipidemia Rehmannia 16 for diabetes with deficiency heat Cuscuta 15 for diabetes with kidney qi deficiency EXPLANATORY NOTES Momordica, the main ingredient of Karnim, has been shown to contain an insulin-like compound, which has been dubbed plant insulin because 16 of its 17 amino acids are similar to the insulin of animal origin. Momordica also contains sterols that may be important in lowering blood sugar. Neem is reported to promote insulin secretion by the pancreatic beta cells. The main role of the ginger and myrrh in Karnim is to enhance the digestive power and lower the blood lipids; myrrh may help prevent capillary damage that is secondary to diabetic syndrome. Myrrh and neem also appear together in Artoralt* to lower blood lipids. Basil is a digestive aid, and is used in this formula as an anti-stress compound, important because stress reactions cause further difficulty in regulating blood sugar levels and appetite. Further, basil promotes uptake of glucose by peripheral tissues. The combination of basil and ginger appears in Coprid,* to help alleviate phlegm accumulation in lung disease. Picrorrhiza contains kutkin, which stimulates secretion of insulin; it also regulates liver functions, which include glucose metabolism and storage. In clinical trials carried out in India, it was shown that Karnim had a marked effect on blood sugar levels and symptoms of diabetes within one month and the improvements could be maintained, and sometimes furthered, by continuing administration up to three months (duration of the study period). Ayurvedic description: invigorates pitta, releases kapha; Chinese description: clears heat, promotes stomach function, tonifies spleen and lung, resolves phlegm. *Artoralt (for cardiovascular support) and Coprid (for lung support) are two other Herbs from India formulations. These formulas are also described in the ITM book A Bag of Pearls, from which this page of text is derived.