What Is Pasuchaca, the Andean Herb Behind Diabetisan?

A few people have asked us what's actually in Diabetisan beyond the word \"blend.\" Fair question. The label says Pasuchaca, Yacon, and Cuti Cuti, and most of that means nothing to a shopper in the US. So today we're zooming in on just the first one, Pasuchaca, the herb doing most of the heavy lifting.

What Pasuchaca actually is

Pasuchaca is a small perennial plant in the geranium family that grows wild across Peru's Andean highlands, at elevations where a lot of crops struggle. Botanists have described several closely related species, all commonly called pasuchaca, mostly in the genus Geranium. In rural regions like Cajamarca and Ayacucho, people have long boiled the stems and leaves into a decoction and drunk it as a daily tea, specifically for blood sugar, long before \"blood sugar support\" was a category on a supplement shelf.

What the research says

Pasuchaca has actually been studied more than most Andean herbs we carry, which is refreshing, though the research is still early. A few specific findings worth knowing:

A 2024 study identified astilbin and related dihydroflavonol compounds in pasuchaca extract and found strong antiglycation activity in lab testing, meaning the compounds interfered with a chemical process (glycation) that's linked to diabetes complications. Separate lab research found pasuchaca extract inhibits alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme your gut uses to break starch down into absorbable sugar. In practice, that showed up as blunted blood sugar spikes after mice were given sucrose, maltose, or starch, but interestingly, not after they were given glucose directly. That's a meaningful distinction: the mechanism looks like it's slowing carbohydrate digestion, not acting like insulin.

In a mouse study using alloxan (a compound that damages insulin-producing cells to mimic diabetes), pasuchaca extract lowered blood glucose after 14 days of treatment, with the clearest effect around 150 mg per kilogram of body weight.

Here's the honest caveat we'd want if we were reading this ourselves: this is animal and lab research, not human clinical trials. Mouse studies are a reasonable first step and they're consistent with centuries of traditional use, but they don't prove Pasuchaca will do the same thing in a person, at what dose, or how it interacts with medications people are already taking. Nobody should read this article and stop a prescribed diabetes medication. If you're managing blood sugar with medication, talk to your doctor before adding Pasuchaca, since combining the two could push blood sugar lower than intended.

Why it's blended, not sold alone

We don't sell Pasuchaca as a standalone product, and that's intentional, following the traditional formula. Diabetisan combines it with Yacon, which contributes fructooligosaccharides (a fiber your gut bacteria ferment rather than a sugar your body absorbs), and Cuti Cuti, a traditional Andean partner herb that's typically included alongside Pasuchaca in folk preparations. The three together are closer to what's actually been used in Cajamarca kitchens for generations than any single ingredient would be on its own.

Tea or capsules

Our Diabetisan Herbal Tea is the loose-leaf, brew-it-yourself version, with an earthy, slightly bitter cup that's easy to fold into a daily routine. If steeping tea daily isn't realistic for you, the same blend is also available as Diabetisan Capsules. We've written a full breakdown of which format actually fits different routines in our Diabetisan Capsules vs. Tea comparison, if that's the more relevant question for you right now.

A last honest note: Pasuchaca is not a replacement for medical care, and this article isn't medical advice. Blood sugar management is genuinely serious, and an herbal tea, however well-researched, is a support habit, not a treatment plan. If you're pregnant, nursing, or on any blood sugar or blood pressure medication, check with your doctor before adding Diabetisan to your routine. You can see the rest of our blood sugar lineup in the blood sugar support collection.

Featured Product

Diabetisan Herbal Tea

A traditional Andean blend of Pasuchaca, Yacon, and Cuti Cuti, brewed as a daily tea for blood sugar support.

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Diabetisan is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your doctor before use if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking blood sugar or blood pressure medication.