Many different herbs can act to curb your appetite and improve your chances of losing weight. Some herbs are widely marketed in commercial products, while others are less known. Before you start taking any herbal appetite suppressant, consult your physician to talk about potential health risks, side effects and drug interactions.
Herbs
Psyllium, cayenne, hoodia, yohimbe, guarana, ephedrine and guggul are among the most common herbal appetite suppressants. Psyllium and other types of soluble fiber can make you feel fuller and suppress your appetite, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Guggul is an ingredient in herbal Ayurvedic formulas that help promote weight loss, and cayenne's main constituent, called capsaicin, decreases hunger, explains UMMC. Hoodia can also reduce appetite, and the active constituent of yohimbe bark, called yohimbine, stimulates the central nervous system to suppress appetite, says the University of Michigan Health System. The compound ephedrine found in bitter orange and the alkaloids in guarana appear to suppress hunger. The caffeine contained in guarana might also contribute to curbing appetite.
Dosages
For appetite suppression, you might take guggul extracts containing 25 mg of guggulsterones three times daily or 975 mg of bitter orange each day, notes the University of Michigan Health System. A typical dosage of cayenne is 28 g daily or 6 to 10 g with each meal to curb hunger. Dosages for other herbal appetite suppressants may vary, so you should ask your doctor about the amount that's right for you.
Scientific Evidence
A study published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2005 and cited by the UMMC found that the capsaicin in cayenne reduced food intake by suppressing appetite. A clinical trial conducted by the pharmaceutical company Phytopharm in 2001 and discussed by the University of Michigan Health System found that hoodia could be an effective herbal appetite suppressant for treating obesity. Another study discovered that taking 5 mg of yohimbine from yohimbe bark four times daily promoted weight loss in women, according to a 1991 issue of the Israel Journal of Medical Sciences. A 1999 study in Current Therapeutic Research found that taking a combination of bitter orange, St. John's wort and caffeine resulted in significant weight loss, reports the University of Michigan Health System.
Considerations
Little research has been conducted on many of these herbal appetite suppressants. Not only is evidence lacking on the efficacy of these herbs to curb appetite and promote weight loss, but it's also lacking on the herbs' safety for use in humans. Also, some heavily marketed weight-loss aids like hoodia might contain varying amounts of the herb in commercial products, warns the UMMC. For these reasons, you should only take herbal appetite suppressants under the direction of a health care professional.
Dangers
Guggul can cause side effects like nausea and diarrhea, and the herb might be dangerous for people who have or are at risk for breast, prostate and other hormone-sensitive cancers, warns the UMMC. Some herbal weight-loss products contain caffeine, which can have potentially dangerous effects on your blood pressure and heart rate. The herb guarana itself contains caffeine. Taking fiber supplements like psyllium could cause gas and even intestinal blockages. Finally, due to serious health dangers, products containing ephedrine have been banned in the United States, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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