How Herbs May Help With Weight Loss
The market is awash with a whole slew of weight loss options, but herbal weight loss can be considered as the best of the rest. It is mainly due to the increasing awareness in terms of benefits without any apparent side-effects associated with the usage of herbal products that make people to get more inclined day by day for using herbal weight loss remedy. Herbal products ensure loosing the extra weight by following a time consuming but effective procedure.
Overview of herbal remedies
In the fast paced world, we hardly get the time for ourselves during which we take a great care of us. Different daily hassles, hard competition and life style affect our diet very profoundly, which results our dependency over fast foods, snack and junk foods. The ultimate outcome leads to experiencing obesity, increasing blood cholesterol level, cardiac problems and other difficulties.
Apart from the health issue, obesity is directly linked up with social stigma. It affects everyone, especially women. Its effect is so profuse in one’s life, that an individual suffering from obesity may take any drastic step to reduce her weight. It may range from having hotchpotch diet to non-verifiable artificial weight loss supplements as well. This may, in turn, result to severe side-effects by disputing metabolic system, while apparently resulting in temporary weight loss.
Herbal weight loss supplements in association with herbal weight loss programs are considered to be the most effective solution for acquiring a perfect health. It is particularly beneficial for those who want to be aligned with Mother Nature. However, there are great varieties in herbal weight loss products, and there is no specific guarantee of its effectiveness. The efficiency also largely depends on the type of the product chosen and on its specific requirement for its user. The consumers must be gather sufficient knowledge regarding possible side-effects regarding the product both in short term and long term.
Weight loss mechanism
Essentially, the herbal weight loss supplements work best following three mechanisms.
1. The product increases the amount of the discharge of urine and stool, thus, helps cleansing the body by protecting against the accumulation of bodily waste in the colon.
2. It also enhances and rejuvenates central nervous system and helps promoting homeostasis through holistic approach.
3. It also increases the serotonin level in the body, which eventually makes an individual more vigorous and serene in mind and health.
Variety of herbs used:
A great variety of herbs are used in the weight loss programs. All for different reasons. However, there are few that we should mention. Let’s discuss a few of them here.
Ma-huang: This is also known as ephedra. This is one of the most common ingredients used in the various weight loss supplements, however, it has been banned. Medical practitioners highly discourage its prolonged usages by putting a special emphasis of its harmful side effects on health.
Chris’ side-note on ephedra: In Traditional Chinese medicine, weight loss is not an indication for this herb. It makes you sweat and lose essential body fluids – it doesn’t help with fat loss. Many people with undiagnosed kidney disease died as a result of using products that contain it. I personally do not recommend you use any product that contains ephedra!
Cascara: It holds a significant place in most of the herbal weight loss supplements. It is generally used as an internal cleanser. However, it has side-effect as well. It imay create disturbances in electrolytic balance.
Chris’ side-note on cascara: Cascara is a strong purgative. If you carry a lot of fecal matter in your bowels, this will help clean you out making it seem as if you’ve lost weight.
Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is well-respected among the mass for its versatile qualities. It is commonly found as an important ingredient of weight loss supplement. It also helps cleansing body. However, there is no clinical evidence found yet to ascertain long term benefits of weight loss from Aloe Vera.
Chris’ side-note on aloe vera: Aloe vera also helps to improve elimination except it also aides with internal healing. It may help improve your bodies ability to absorb nutrients.
Glocomannan: This helps absorbing glucose from intestine, hence creating a feeling of fullness in an individual. Quite obviously, it results in less intake of food. It is effective in reducing weight effectively; however, the impact of this herb is not free from side-effects. It may create gastrointestinal complications in long run.
Dandelion: It works as an effective natural diuretic as it helps releasing water from body. But one needs to be very careful about drinking a plentiful amount of water while taking this herb. If the amount of water intake is insufficient, the individual is on high risk of having dehydration and allergic reactions.
Thanks to
Pharmacy Online for sharing this information on herbs.
Hi, I'm Christine Hasinger, DOM. I’m an Oriental Medicine Practitioner of which a large part is utilizing natural herbal medicine. You see, we're Master Herbalists as well as Acupuncturists. A large part of our extensive training focuses on the preparation, making, use and prescribing of herbs and herbal formulas for a wide variety of health disorders and problems.