| Herbs have been used for centuries to | | | | heart palpitations, heart attack, |
| facilitate weight loss. The issue is that | | | | dehydration, seizures, chest pain, stroke, |
| some herbs used for weight loss are better | | | | dissociation, anxiety, depression, mood |
| for you than others.Some herbs trick your | | | | swings, impulsivity, distractibility and |
| body into thinking your body is full (like | | | | psychosis.Safer choices include:Cayenne - |
| hoodia which is technically a plant but is | | | | This is a mild thermogenic herb that is used |
| commonly found in the herbal section of your | | | | to spice Indian and Mexican food. It contains |
| health food store.)Other herbs are classified | | | | an ingredient called capsaicin that aids in |
| as being thermogenic meaning that they | | | | digestion and causes a mild increase in the |
| accelerate body functions such as digestion, | | | | rate of metabolism.Green Tea - The main |
| heart rate and breathing.These herbs usually | | | | weight loss component in green tea is |
| contain a great deal of natural caffeine and | | | | caffeine. It acts on the body in much the |
| include green tea, nettle and dandelion.The | | | | same way as a cup o coffee except that it |
| herbs that are least effective in the long | | | | also contains antioxidants and Vitamin C. It |
| run are those that are classified as | | | | is best drunk as a tea as you can adjust how |
| diuretics. | | | | stimulating you want it to be by leaving the |
| | | | teabag in the cup for shorter or longer |
| Green tea and dandelion are also part of | | | | times.Seaweed - A good source of trace |
| this group along with buchu, birchbark and | | | | minerals such as chromium and iodine, seaweed |
| uva ursi. These herbs can address the problem | | | | is gently stimulating to a lazy thyroid that |
| of water retention but as soon as you stop | | | | might be responsible for a slowdown in |
| taking them you gain the weight back when | | | | metabolism. You can buy these as kelp |
| your body rehydrates itself.There are some | | | | capsules or enjoy eating it with sushi.Keep |
| herbs that you should avoid taking because | | | | in mind that before you take any kind of herb |
| they can cause serious side effects and even | | | | it is very important for you to talk with |
| death. They also come with serious warnings | | | | your doctor first. Some conditions simply |
| from the Food and Drug administration.These | | | | don't respond well to event he safest of |
| include:Herbal Laxatives such as cascara | | | | herbs for weight loss. For instance using |
| sagrada, buckthorn, aloe, rhubarb root and | | | | cayenne may not be ideal for you if you have |
| senna.Herbal Laxatives - Usually sold as a | | | | acid reflux, green tea is not great for |
| diet tea, cascara, senna, buckthorn, aloe and | | | | anxiety disorders and seaweed can be |
| rhubarb root. These herbs cause diarrhea and | | | | downright lethal for someone who suffers from |
| cramping and over the long term can cause | | | | hyperthyroidism or Grave's disease.Always |
| your intestinal muscles to lose their ability | | | | check with your doctor first before you take |
| to move food through the colon on their | | | | anything that guarantees "natural weight |
| own.Ephedra - Also known as ma huang or | | | | loss" using herbs as there are a lot of snake |
| Herbal Phen Phen this drug causes an | | | | oil salesman in the dieting business selling |
| overstimulation of the central nervous | | | | unhealthy options as new age |
| system, an increase in blood pressure and an | | | | miracles.Patricia has been interested in |
| elevated heart rate. | | | | natural health and weightloss since the early |
| | | | 70's, and knows how to seperate fact from |
| The FDA warns of scores of side effects to | | | | hype. |
| using this herb including heart murmurs, | | | | |