A reduced appetite, also known as anorexia, may be a sign of an underlying health condition. Numerous conditions or illnesses can negatively affect your appetite. However, your appetite should return once your underlying condition is treated. Herbal remedies may improve your appetite and treat the conditions causing your anorexia, although you should always consult your physician before using herbs for this purpose.
Reduced Appetite
Most people experience an occasional loss of appetite, and that this is usually not a cause for concern, unless your anorexia lasts for more than a few days, states the University of Illinois Medical Center. Possible causes of reduced appetite include depression, cancer, infections, heart failure, pregnancy, dementia, hypothyroidism, and certain prescription medications or street drugs. If you have experienced reduced appetite and rapid and unexplained weight loss over the past several months, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Useful Herbal Remedies
Certain herbs are known to stimulate your appetite. In "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," nutrition expert and certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch reports that reduced appetite is typically not a disorder in itself, but is usually a symptom of some other problem. Balch states that the following herbs are commonly used to boost your appetite: catnip, fennel seed, ginger root, ginseng, gotu kola, papaya leaves, peppermint leaves and saw palmetto berries. These herbs may also activate your the flow of saliva and production of digestive juices.
Featured Herb
The leaves of the papaya tree have long been used as an herbal remedy to stimulate your appetite and aid digestion. Papaya leaves, notes Balch, may also effectively treat heartburn, GERD and various inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopath, herbalist and author of "Plant Medicine in Practice," states that papaya contains papain, which is a type of enzyme that helps break down protein.
Disclaimer
Because prolonged reduced appetite may be caused by serious health conditions, such as cancer, you should schedule an appointment with your primary health care provider as soon as possible. Use caution when taking herbs, as some herbs contain powerful medicinal ingredients that provoke significant physiological changes within your body. Herbs are best used under the care of a botanically trained health care provider who can counsel you on what herbs to take and how to take them.
References
- MedlinePlus: Appetite: Decreased
- University of Illinois Medical Center: Loss of Appetite
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- "Plant Medicine in Practice"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
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