Gymnema is an herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India and Sri Lanka. Gymnema is a woody climbing shrub. The leaves are used to make medicine. Gymnema has a long history of use in Indias Ayurvedic medicine. The Hindi name, gurmar, means "destroyer of sugar." The herb finds significant application in various food preparations for control of obesity and blood cholesterol levels besides regulation of sugar homeostasis. The herbal preparations of G. sylvestre are presently used in tea bags, health tablets and supplements, beverages, and confectioneries. General Uses: Gymnema is used for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, weight loss, and cough. It is also used for malaria and as a snake bite antidote, digestive stimulant, laxative, appetite suppressant, and diuretic. It helps balance blood sugar, and it promotes lean body mass by lessening the amount of sugar that gets stored as fat.