Lack of appetite can be caused by a variety of things -- illness, cancer treatment and nausea, to name a few. If this is prolonged, you are not getting the nutrition you need, which can be serious if your body is already weakened. There are supplements that have been used to help stimulate the appetite, but they might not be effective for everyone. Prior to using these to increase your appetite, talk with your doctor about your condition and any possible treatments or remedies.
Step 1
Take a B-complex vitamin. Loss of appetite might be a symptom of a vitamin B deficiency, says the American Cancer Society. The B-vitamins help the body convert food into energy and are involved in maintaining red blood cells, healthy growth and development; making DNA; and breaking down protein.
Step 2
Consume cayenne pepper. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, this was used to remedy poor appetite in traditional Ayurvedic, Korean, Chinese and Japanese medicine. It can be taken as a capsule, with the dosage ranging from 30 to 120 mg three times a day.
Step 3
Eat 2 to 4 g a day of fresh, minced garlic, or take 600 to 1,200 mg daily, in divided doses as dried garlic extract capsules, says UMMC. This herbal supplement has been shown to increase appetite in individuals undergoing chemotherapy.
Step 4
Take 1 to 2 enteric-coated capsules of peppermint oil if indigestion, upset stomach or irritable bowel syndrome are contributing to your lack of appetite. Peppermint relaxes stomach muscles and encourages digestion by stimulating bile, explains the University of Maryland.
Step 5
Take Dronabinol if your doctor has prescribed this to restore your appetite. This is a medical form of marijuana that contains cannabinoids such as THC, which help increase appetite, according to Drugs.com. Do not smoke marijuana, which is prescription-only.
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