The leaves are used to make medicine. Gymnema has a long history of use in India’s Ayurvedic medicine. The Hindi name, gurmar, means destroyer of sugar.. Today, gymnema is used for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, weight loss, and cough. Weight loss. 2  Early research suggests that taking a specific combination of gymnema extract, hydroxycitric acid, and niacin-bound chromium by mouth for 8 weeks might reduce body weight in people who are overweight or obese.