There are different herbal preparations that play an important role in weight loss, each of them working in its own unique way.
Most of these herbal products helping in weight loss work by increasing bowel motion and urination. These products also play an important role in raising the serotonin level, thus giving a feel of ‘fullness’, and also speeds up our mental and physical actions. Our central nervous system is stimulated by the action of caffeine.
Herbal Remedies –Advantages and Disadvantages:
These herbal preparations or products contain different essential ingredients, which help in the process of weight loss.
Some of these ingredients are:
GUARANA (BRAZILIAN COCOA):
We can obtain this from seeds of a Brazilian plant. It helps to stimulate our central nervous system, having 2.5-5% caffeine, hence having a stimulant and diuretic nature leading to weight loss.
However, there are many side effects associated with the use of Guarana. Since this contains caffeine, it causes high blood pressure. This often interacts with our anti-coagulant and increases the bleeding time. Use of these products also causes dizziness, nausea, and anxiety.
ORAL ALOE:
Herbal products helping in weight loss are often associated with aloe. These are marketed as ‘internal cleansers’ and help in bowel movements. Using aloe is often considered as safe but an excessive use may lead to abdominal cramps, decrease in potassium level, and diarrhoea.
CASCARA:
Commonly known as ‘bitter bark’ and is widely used in these herbal preparations. The common use is in the form of laxative for constipation. Often lactating and pregnant women are prohibited from using these herbs since this can be transferred to their breast milk. Over use of the herb disturbs our electrolytic level in the body, thus hampering normal body functions.
DANDELION:
Often termed as a ‘natural diuretic’, which helps to urinate more often, thus helping in weight loss through a loss of body water. Nevertheless, its overuse causes allergic actions, sometimes leading to carcinogenic reactions.
GLUCOMANNAN:
It is available as capsule and powder form. This absorbs water from stomach and intestine and forms heavy bulky fibre like thing. This causes slowing down of the absorption of cholesterol and sugar from our guts, thus playing a role in weight loss.
The side effects include blockage in intestine or our throat. This also disturbs the blood sugar level, thus its intake must be checked.
GUAR GUM:
This is a dietary fibre procured from cluster bean. This retains water and lessens our appetite, thus giving a feel of ‘fullness’. This causes disturbances in sugar level, hence not prescribed for diabetic patients.