Herbal Weight Loss Products Essay

Herbs of various kinds are now being used to treat weight loss problems. Although some are not scientifically proven to be effective, the users often claim some positive weight loss effects from the products.

An increasing number of people are using products to enhance their diets. A recent estimate indicates, “Americans are spending some $6 billion annually on nutritional supplements, and the market is growing by 20% every year” (Zahn, 1997). Of these supplements, the increase in herbal remedy use is most dramatic. Zahn holds that the increase can be attributed to the widely held belief that herbal substances are healthy and harmless because of their natural origins (1997). Unfortunately, research on these supplements, herbal or otherwise, has not transmitted to the public as quickly as the diet enhancers themselves. The phenomenon leaves many consumers misguided by skewed advertising and

An increasing number of medical schools are now offering courses in alternative medicine for their students, and some hospitals already have alternative medicine departments. The availability of healers and doctors practicing holistic medicine has also increased in recent years, and more and more people are educating themselves in these new fields. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 percent of the world’s population (about 3 billion people) rely on traditional medicine as their primary form of health care.

Dietary pills manufacturers emphasize that their supplements are intended to intensify the effects of exercise and diet. In contradiction, some doctors think these cannot deliver so much impact and will only shrink the consumers’ wallet. They are pointing out to the lack of strong evidence that could stand the claim they can aid weight loss successfully.

The ingredient Green Tea Extract, which is in Flat Tummy is proven to help weight loss.

The research that has been conducted in Garcina Camogia is minimal and doesn’t amount to much as far as rock hard evidence is concerned. One study, conducted in 1998, showed no significant weight loss results. The study consisted of 135 test subjects over a 12-week period; at the end of the study both the Garcina Cambogia group and the placebo group had lost significant amount of weight. There was no significant difference in the weight loss by the subjects taking the supplement vs. the placebo, according to, US National Library of

The fact must be faced; obesity is increasing in numbers. However, it is interesting to note that as the number of overweight individuals increases, so too does the various methods of reducing caloric and fat intake. In today’s busy society Americans are willing to try almost any weight loss product on the market in order to reach their goal of "thinness. Americans are turning to herbal supplements in record numbers as a means of attaining their dietary needs and goals. One of the best selling herbal supplements on the market is Metabolife 356â (http://www.metabolife.com/news/100199.htm).

Garcinia cambogia extract is a weight loss pill that was advertised by Dr. Oz during a segment on his daytime talk show. Dr. Oz introduced the product using persuasive language to provoke viewer interest, claiming the pill is the magic ingredient to lose weight without diet or exercise. He explained that garcinia cambogia extract is found in the rind of tamarind fruit from Southeast Asia and that the fruit is known to have medicinal benefits. Dr. Oz stated that garcinia cambogia may have more promise than other weight loss products because it reduces body fat and suppresses appetite. The active ingredient found in garcinia cambogia, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), aids to block an enzyme which makes fat. HCA also increases the release of the hormone serotonin, which reduces the craving for food. Additionally, garcinia cambogia can decrease total cholesterol and triglycerides, with potential improvement in leptin and insulin resistance in the obese.

Thesis: Efficacy of traditional herbal remedies combined with a cultural faith in those traditions, combats modern medicine 's inherent distrust of traditional healing.

A natural Garcinia Cambogia Supplement, such as LivingVita's Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract, is safe to take and has been effective in clinical studies. The most famous clinical study was done by the Current Therapeutic Research® journal. Scientists used Garcinia Cambogia with HCA to study it's weight loss effects. They found that it causes significant weight loss, lowers food intake and body weight gain, as well as tackling factors such as cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and serum leptin levels. Full study: http://www.currenttherapeuticres.com/article/S0011-393X(03)00152-8/fulltext

Herbal medicine has been used for many, many years and is a great natural alternative to modern medicine.

Although "Alternative" or "Complementary" medicine has been kept on the fringes of the medical sciences in the past, it is becoming increasingly more popular, and more reputable. Alternative medicines are those medical systems which are not taught to or practiced by most conventional medical doctors. Alternative medicines seemingly have always existed, changing and conforming to the current climate of society. There seems to be an almost endless number of alternative medicines, each with their own method of gaining perfect health. Often people who are dissatisfied with conventional medicine turn to alternative medicine for their medical needs. Many similarities link the diverse extremities of alternative medicine.

These therapies have proved to be of much benefit in supporting the normal healing course of the body. Even though there are many modern alternative remedies, with different beliefs, all of them operate under some common principles. One of these principles is that the body has the capacity to heal naturally and maintain stability (Paquette, 2000). The other one is that adverse health conditions can occur as a result of factors emanating from mind, emotions and the body. Alternative medicine, according to Goldberg, Trivieri and Anderson, (2002), focuses on determining the chief cause of a particular condition, and dealing with the whole person rather that concentrating on symptoms. If a person pays close attention to his/her health he/she can contribute to his/her wellbeing. Alternative medicine holds firmly to the principle that one treatment cannot be used for all people even though they may be suffering from the same condition. Each and every person as per alternative medicine has distinct bodily, mind and spiritual make up (Goldberg, Trivieri and Anderson, 2002).

It encompasses diet, nutritional medicine, therapies and self-care regimes to attain healing (Young, 2007). Naturopathy has six principles: 1. The healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae) – Naturopaths identify and remove obstacles to cure to ensure that the body can heal itself and maintain health. 2. First do no harm (primum no nocere) – Naturopaths use natural substances to prevent suppression of symptoms which leads to harm and a blockage to cure and health. 3. Identify and treat the cause (tolle causam) – Naturopaths look for the cause of the disease and don’t just treat the symptoms. 4. The physician as teacher (docere) – Naturopaths advise and encourage their patients to take control of their own health and also see each patient visit as an opportunity for learning. 5. Treat the whole person (in perturbato animo sicut in corpore sanitas esse non potest) – Naturopaths treat the whole person, from their internal environment such as the physical, mental and emotional, to their external environment which includes social factors. 6. Prevention (principiis obsta: sero medicina curator) – Naturopaths focus on preventing disease by determining risk factors and assisting their patients to make healthy lifestyle choices (Bodhiclinic.com, 2018; Young,

Herbal medicines are great alternative for commercially manufactured medicines available in the market. The major reason why herbal medicine differ from modern medicine is because they are produced with 100% natural content. Therefore the plant extract has all the medicinal values that are as effective as modern medicine. Commercially prepared drugs show results quickly but have numerous side effects. However herbal medicines don’t show any side