STEVIA STEVIA REBAUDIANA

STEVIA (Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni) ++

Synonym :
Eupatorium rebaudianum Bertoni

Activities (Stevia) — Antibacterial (f; APA); Anticariogenic (f; APA); Antidiabetic (1; APA); Antiedemic (1; HH2); Antifertility (1; APA); Antigluconeogenic (1; AMA); Antiinflammatory (1; HH2); Antiseptic (f; APA); Calcium Antagonist (1; AMA); Contraceptive (f; APA; HHB; PH2); Diuretic (1; AMA; APA; PH2); Hypoglycemic (1; APA; PH2; SYN); Hypotensive (1; AMA; APA; HH2; PH2); Mutagenic (1; AMA; APA); Natriuretic (f; PH2); Nephrotoxic (1; AMA); Sweetener (f; APA); Vasodilator (1; AMA; APA).

Indications (Stevia) :
Bacteria (f; APA); Diabetes (1; APA; HHB); Hyperglycemia (1; AMA); Hypertony (f; HH2); High Blood Pressure (1; AMA; APA; HH2; PH2); Hyperglycemia (1; APA; PH2; SYN); Inflammation (1; HH2); Swelling (1; HH2); Syndrome X (1; SYN); Water Retention (1; AMA; APA; PH2).

Dosages (Stevia) :
1–2 capsules StX (57 mg extract 85% steviosides) with beverage (NH).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Stevia) :
Class 1 (AHP). No health hazards known with proper use as a sweetener (PH2). AMA (Alternative Medicine Alert) suggests that one byproduct of stevia metabolism may be mutagenic (APA); steviol, a metabolite of stevioside “has been found to be highly mutagenic in several in vitro studies” (AMA 3:13). Insufficient human data exist regarding safety in pregnancy and lactation. Hence, “pregnant and lactating patients should avoid stevia” (AMA 3:13). Limited data suggest it may be a contraceptive (APA). Stevioside is “about one hundred times sweeter than sucrose at a 10% concentration” (APA). Liquid leaf extracts significantly decrease plasma glucose levels after overnight fasting in 16 healthy adults (APA).