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Herbs That Suppress Appetite
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| 8 Great Weight-Loss Herbs Norine DworkinWe stuffed ourselves with rich holiday fare from Thanksgiving to New Year's, and now we're paying the price--in pounds. Alas, there is no magic bullet for weight-loss. The best recipe for losing pounds (and keeping them off) is still to eat less and exercise more. However, when combined with a healthy vegetarian diet and regular physical exercise, herbs can jump-start a weight-reduction program. Herbal slimmers generally work as metabolism boosters; fat burners; appetite suppressants; diuretics, which eliminate excess water; and laxatives (stimulating bowel cleansers or gentler bulking agents), which purge waste and detoxify the digestive system so that our bodies use nutrients more efficiently and subsequently store less fat. continued below... |
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We asked Mindy Green, educational services director for the Herb Research Foundation; Raymond Lombardi, ., a naturopathic physician; Linda Rector Page, ., author of How to Be Your Own Herbal Pharmacist (Healthy Healing Publications, 1997); and Tim Blakely, herb educator at Frontier Natural Products Cooperative for their favorite herbal diet aids. Overall, the following botanicals are safe when used in moderation.(*) But it's important to pay attention to the warnings and dosage guidelines since many of these plants can be harmful if overused or mixed with other herbs, foods and medications, particularly antidepressants containing MAO inhibitors. If you are not sure if your medications (over-the-counter and prescription) will negatively interact with these herbs, ask your doctor.
Herb Function Dosage Cascara sagrada Strong stimulant Capsules: 500 to 1,000 (Rhamnus laxative, diuretic. milligrams (mg.) a purshiana) Typically tempered day. Tea: 1 to 2 cups in formulas with a day. Tincture: 10 digestive soothers drops a day. Do not (marshmallow, use cascara sagrada chamomile) and known for more than a week. as carminatives. Dandelion Gentle diuretic, Tea (made from (Taraxacum laxative, digestive leaves, not roots): officinale aid. Enhances fat 3 to 4 cups a day. metabolism; removes Tincture: 15 to 30 fatty acids and drops a day. (Or cholesterol from the eat fresh dandelion bloodstream before greens in a soup they are stored in or salad at meals. fat cells; restores minerals lost when taking a diuretic. Ephedra Metabolic stimulant, Capsules: Do not (Ephedra fat burner, appetite exceed more than sinica) suppressant. Found in 8 mg. within a 6-hour many over-the-counter period. Do not take (OTC) weight-loss more than 3 times a formulas. day for more than 4 weeks. Garcinia Metabolic stimulant, Capsules: 500 mg. 3 cambogia appetite suppressant, times a day for 4 (Malabar fat burner, digestive to 8 weeks. tamarind) aid. Licorice root Satisfies cravings Eat 1 to 2 sticks (Glycyrrhiza for sweets and a day. glabra) prevents habitual snacking without adding calories. Psyllium Gentle bulking 1 tsp. of husk or (Plantago laxative. Contains seed powder dissolved psyllium) mucilage to build in 2 cups of water or mass in the digestive juice 2 to 3 times a tract and push waste day. out, reduces hunger by providing a feeling of fullness. Found in many OTC laxative products. St. John's Serotonin-reuptake- Capsules: 300 mg. wort inhibitor. Studies are of standardized (Hypericum inconclusive, but this extract with perforatum) herb seems to increase percent of the active serotonin levels in the ingredient hypericin brain and suppress 3 times a day. appetite, reduce depre- Tincture: 20 to 30 ssion-related overeating drops 3 times a day. and provide a feeling of satiety. Senna Strong stimulant Capsules: 500 to (Cassia laxative, diuretic. 1,000 mg. a day. senna) Generally tempered Tea: 1 cup a day. in formulas with Tincture: 10 drops digestive soothes a day. Do not use and carminatives. for more than a week. Herb Warning Cascara sagrada Works within 2 hours, so it's best taken (Rhamnus during the day. Prolonged use results in purshiana) dependency, cramping diarrhea and an imbalance in essential electrolytes, such as calcium, potassium and sodium, which the body needs for energy. Do not use if pregnant(**) or have an ulcer or an inflammatory bowel disorder. Do not mix with diuretics, heart medications or blood pressure drugs. Dandelion Dandelion is considered the safest of herbal (Taraxacum diuretics; however, long-term use of any officinale diuretic may cause electrolyte imbalance. Ephedra Ephedra is a natural amphetamine. Do not (Ephedra mix with other stimulants. Do not take it sinica) if you have high blood pressure, heart or thyroid disease, glaucoma or diabetes. May cause insomnia, dry mouth, stomach upset, heart attack Garcinia None cambogia (Malabar tamarind) Licorice root Excessive use can raise blood pressure. (Glycyrrhiza Mixing with diuretics may cause potassium glabra) depletion and lead to weakness, muscle pain and paralysis. Mixing with heart medications may cause irregular heart beat or cardiac arrest. Psyllium Must be consumed with 6 to 8 glasses of water (Plantago a day or severe constipation will result. May psyllium) cause stomach upset, gas, bloating. Do not use if pregnant or have asthma. St. John's Take with meals to avoid stomach upset. May wort increase photosensitivity. May also increase (Hypericum appetite in some people. Do not mix with foods perforatum) that contain the amino acid tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, yeast, miso), OTC diet aids, decongestants or drugs containing MAO inhibitors. Senna Prolonged use results in dependency, (Cassia cramping, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance. senna) Although senna is sold by itself, it's best to mix it with soothing digestive herbs (ginger, marshmallow, chamomile) to reduce cramping.
(*) Check with a health professional before starting any weight-loss program. (**) If you are pregnant, do not use any herbal supplements without discussing it with your doctor.