Overweight Treatment by Medicinal Herbs

Here are some plants that can be very useful in losing weight process:

Erythroxylum Coca

The coca leaf is, of course, hard to find outside the Andean countries where it is easily bought in markets or shaped in infusions (coca mate). The sheet is more effective when consumed in the traditional manner. It is a very good appetite suppressant, furthermore it is anti-diabetic and probably, also a "fat burning ".

Catharanthus Roseus

It is a small ornamental plant with a tropical origin, it is widespread in hot countries and is annual in countries with cold winters. The Madagascar, Catharantus roseus is best known for curing cancer because it contains alkaloids (vinblastin, vincristin). The infusion of Madagascar periwinkle is a classic cure for "bold" diabetes (type 2) in the entire Caribbean region.

The anti-diabetic and slimming action is probably the result of the anorexic power of this infusion that contains a lot of alkaloids. It is consumed by putting 15 to 20 g of leaves (a handful) in a liter of very hot water, let them infuse for 10 minutes, filter the infusion and drink it for 1 to 2 days. The infusion must be stored in cold place. Pace of therapy should be: one week of treatment and one week of rest. One must stop in case of enemy: digestive or urinary tract.

Phyllantus niruri, Orthosiphon Stamineus

Both plants are diuretics. We know that a diuretic plant is not used to lose weight, it can even lead to electrolyte imbalance if taken randomly and in a prolonged way. However, these two plants act as diuretics on appetite (phyllantus) and perhaps on thermogenesis (Orthosiphon). Experience shows that they can help consolidate a weight loss in combination with a low calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Phyllantus niruri ("low green seed" in the French West Indies) is a common tropical plant, especially used in traditional medicine to treat lithiasis (calculus) of urine (diuretic, anti-infectives. This plant can be consumed in the same way as Catharanthus Roseus.

The Ortosiphon stamineus of java or tea, an ornamental plant from the Indo-Malay region, is a traditional medicine in Asia: used to cure diabetes and obesity, urinary disorders, Gout and hypertension. It is slightly anti-inflammatory; put 10 to 15 g of leaves in a liter of water to consume in a day or two. There is a possibility to use the mother tincture (50 to 100 drops per day), dry extract or total extract.

Seaweed, the Gum Caroubier, Konjac

Algae contain polysaccharides (carbohydrates) that are not assimilated by the body. It is therefore tempting to use algae or extracts to induce an effect of satiety (appetite suppressing) without caloric intake. The consumption of algae provides, in addition, trace minerals (including iodine, which supports thyroid activity (fat burning)).

Now, we can easily find in Europe dried algae that can be incorporated in the diet. It is also possible to harvest and dry seaweed Coastal, however, polluted areas by industrial waste or nuclear power plants should be definitely avoided. Some polysaccharides of red algae are often incorporated into food. The most interesting, in my opinion, are carrageenan, partially extracted from Chondrus crispus (easy to find on the coast) for their appetite suppressant effects.

The carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua, is a typical tree of the Mediterranean. The fruit is a pod with an edible pulp. We extract flour, which is not assimilable (not dietary calories), from the seeds fruit, whose weight corresponds to the regular "carat" of jewelers.  It is possible to incorporate the "thickening" and mucilaginous flour to food, it is a very good appetite suppressant.