Is Herbal Weight Loss Really Safe?

Thank the Chinese for introducing herbs for medicinal purposes as we know it today. Add in the Greeks, the Indians, the Romans and the Arabs of the ancient world, and then in the modern world, the practitioners of herbal medicine and you have a field of healing that continues to make an impact on human life.

Among the more notable applications of herbal medicine is in the weight loss area, the achievement of which, more often than not, eludes the large number of obese people in the world, pun intended. In the US alone, more than one-third of adults are obese and the number is growing.

However, the question remains: Is herbal weight loss really safe? This is the question that this article will seek to answer through the presentation of the pros and the cons of the alternative approach to weight loss.

Pros of the Program

When in an herbal weight loss program, the participant will be provided with the following advantages:

* Safer Treatments -- As in most organic and natural treatments, the use of herbs in weight loss is safer for human health. When chosen carefully, herbs present minimal side effects like allergies, diarrhea, dizziness, and vomiting. Of course, when side effects do occur, immediate stoppage is possible since these are basically oral treatments.

* Wide Range of Choices -- With herbs, the choices of oral intake are wide, from oral pills to flavored drinks and teas. Thus, people who cannot comfortably swallow pills can take drink mixtures instead. Of course, one can always concoct mixtures suited to the weight loss program though a physician's advice is strongly recommended.

* Ease of Purchase and Relative Affordability -- Since most herbal pills and drinks for weight loss can be purchased over-the-counter at relatively affordable prices, anyone can avail of their benefits. Again, however, medical advice from a competent physician is highly advised to avoid health complications.

* Gradual Weight Loss -- Unlike most weight loss pills and patches, herbal medicines do not promise sudden weight loss. Instead, slowly but surely, with the proper diet and exercise, is the motto of herbalists.

Cons of the Program

Of course, there are cons to any herbal weight loss program. For a manufacturer to promise that taking in the herbal medicines is sufficient impetus for weight loss is a false claim, which every individual must be vigilant about.

When applied inappropriately and used improperly, herbal medicines can cause unpleasant side effects, health complications, and even death. That said, there are herbal medicines that one must avoid in any herbal weight loss program no matter the manufacturer's claims to the contrary.

These herbal medicines include but are not limited to:
a) Laxatives containing cascara, buckthorn, aloe, sienna and rhubarb root, all of which cause diarrhea, vomiting and chronic constipation;

b) Ephedra is a stimulant that can cause liver and kidney damage as well as high blood pressure and;

c) St. John's Wort due to its antidepressant properties that can dangerously interact with other medications. Again, medical advice from a physician is imperative to prevent health complications arising from side effects and dangerous drug interactions.

Ultimately, the decision to lose weight safely and permanently does not lie in the application of any herbal weight loss program alone. A healthy lifestyle of proper diet, adequate exercise, sufficient sleep, abstinence from alcohol and cigarettes, periodic medical check-ups, and a happy attitude towards life is still the best way to shed off those pounds.

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