It was believed to have magical powers by ancient Mayan Indians in Mexico and used to treat a variety of illnesses. Today, a growing number of diabetics in Mexico and South Texas using Dibepan Tea swear by it.

But is this a safe herbal supplement or quack remedy?

"The tea is wonderful. It works!" diabetic Carlos Esquivel said. "Right now, like I said, I don't use any insulin."

"You can see enormous change in one week," Dibepan Tea distributor Roberto Lara said.

The claims may sound outrageous, but some long-time diabetics in San Antonio are turning to a Mexican plant for an answer to their disease.

More coverage  KENS video: Watch the broadcast  KENS video: Extended interview with Dr. George Kudolo on Dibepan Tea •  Chat: Read the transcript from Tuesday's live chat with the maker of dibepan tea, Dr. Eduardo Martínez Sañudo on MySA.com Where to buy Dibepan Tea in San Antonio El Tio Foods 126 W. Rector Dr., Ste. 104 (210) 342-2204 www.dibepanusa.com Editor's Note: Local distributors have run out of Dibepan Tea. There was such a huge interest in the tea that the only South Texas supplier ran out early Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for El Tio Foods says they were inundated with calls from people who saw the Monday night report on KENS 5 Eyewitness News. The company should have a new shipment by the beginning of next week.

"The plant's name is Guazuma ulmifolia," Lara said.

"It is possible that one plant can do all this," said Dr. George Kudolo, a professor of clinical laboratory sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

The plant is found in the jungles of Veracruz, Mexico, and is also known as West Indian Elm or Bay Cedar.

Esquivel, who uses Dibepan Tea, has been a diabetic for 20 years and was on insulin.

"If I have to live with that disease, I want to try to live in the best way I can," he said.

Another diabetic, Juana Barbosa, had never been to a doctor, but Barbosa says six months ago, she suddenly lost 50 pounds.

Family members with diabetes checked her blood glucose level and found it alarmingly high.

Barbosa started drinking Dibepan Tea imported from Mexico. Makers claim it reduces the symptoms of diabetes.

Both tea drinkers say, now, when they check their sugar levels, they are closer to normal — and they've only been drinking the tea for about two weeks.

The plant has a long history of indigenous use, even considered a magical plant by Indians who boiled the bark and fruit to treat diabetic symptoms and other conditions.

"There are about 800 plants identified as having anti-diabetic characteristics," Kudolo said.

According to Kudolo, 150 of those plants identified are in Mexico.

"From the literature, what has been done, it appears to will reduce blood glucose, but the problem that we have is we don't know how it does it," Kudolo said.

Kudolo warns one known side effect of the tea may include spells of hypoglycemia, when your sugar level drops too low.

Medical experts say the danger with an herbal product like this is not enough research has been done on it yet to know how much is safe to take.

"Those are the dangers of taking these supplements, if you don't know what they do or how they work," said Kudolo.

However, even the distributor of the tea is careful to say it's not a cure.

"Nothing cure diabetes, nothing," Lara said.

"If you have to take supplements in addition to your medication, it's best to let your doctor know," Kudolo said.

If you are considering trying an herbal supplement, you should consult your doctor.