Numerous herbs may be helpful in encouraging weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, unless you have a medical condition that is affecting your weight, eating a well-balanced diet and engaging in regular physical exercise is a safe and healthy way to lose weight. Certain herbs may also help you lose weight. Before taking herbs to help encourage weight loss, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Ma Huang
Ma huang is an herb that may encourage weight loss. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC, ma huang, also known as Ephedra sinica, has been used for centuries in India and China to treat numerous health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, cough and infections. The stems of the branches are used medicinally. Ma huang has also been used to encourage weight loss, notes the MSKCC. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that the principle biologically-active constituent in ma huang is ephedrine, which stimulates your central nervous system and boosts the metabolic rate of your adipose, or fat, tissue. Large doses of this herb can cause serious health complications, notes Tilgner. Before taking ma huang to encourage weight loss, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Bitter Orange
Bitter orange is an herb that may encourage weight loss. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, states that bitter orange, also known as Citrus aurantium, is a tree native to certain parts of Africa and Asia. The tree now grows in parts of the Mediterranean, California and Florida. The dried fruit and peel, and sometimes the flowers and leaves, are used medicinally. Bitter orange, in oil form, can also be applied topically, or to your skin. According to the NCCAM, bitter orange is used to treat numerous health problems, including gastric reflux, poor appetite, ringworm, athlete's foot and congestion in your nasal passageways. Bitter orange is also used to encourage weight loss. The NCCAM cautions that bitter orange contains certain compounds that may boost your heart rate and blood pressure. Before taking bitter orange to encourage weight loss, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Hoodia
Hoodia is an herb that may be beneficial for weight loss. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC, hoodia, also known as Hoodia gondonii, is a flowering, cactus-like plant that grows in southeastern Africa. The Kalahari bushmen have been known to consume hoodia to help reduce their hunger and thirst during periods of starvation. In contemporary Western society, hoodia has been marketed and used as an appetite suppressant that encourages weight loss. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that, although media sources have suggested that hoodia may be an effective weight-loss supplement, long-term research on hoodia's health benefits are lacking. According to the MSKCC, some cancer patients use hoodia-containing supplements help control weight. Before taking hoodia to encourage weight loss, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
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