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Ask the Herbalist_questions on weight loss
loss product.
Properly used it does have medicinal qualities for acute or short term use under the guidance of a qualified herbalist or
healthcare provider.
This herb is contraindicated for people with Heart Disease, Hypertension, Liver or Kidney Disease, or while using over
the counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, etc which also can speed you up.
For her withdrawal symptoms herbal relaxants could be used, but I would not give them to her. She should deal with
the withdrawal symptoms and learn from this experience that weight loss is not done by taking a pill or an herb. Weight
loss should be achieved by a combination of lowered caloric intake and increased physical exertion. Any product that
offers a quick, magical or easy way out should not be believed and in this case and more could be potentially
dangerous.
End of sermon for the day.
QUESTION: I read some place that if I combine the following 3 herbal extracts it will
raise my metabolism and there for I would loose weight easier.
Ma Huang
Guarana
White Willow Bark
So far I've lost some weight but is it safe, and what are the long and short
term effects of these herbs on my body. Also how long is it safe to take
these (or any one alone) for.
ANSWER: Ma Huang - is Ephedra, a stimulant herb.
Guarana - is also a stimulant herb.
White Willow Bark - has precursors to aspirin and is normally used for pain.
Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe; if medicinal herbs are used improperly they can just as
easily harm you as help.
My suggestion would be not to use herbs to lose weight. Ma Huang and Guarana used improperly can harm you. My
suggestion would be to change eating habits, drink more water and increase physical activity. These are lifestyle
changes not symptomatic or silver bullet relief provided by the herbal diet supplement.
What happens when you stop taking the supplement, you will probably gain the weight back, because your lifestyle
and eating habits have not changed.
Here is a simple technique to help you lose weight:
Your diet should consist in this order water, vegetables, proteins then a small amount of fat and finally fruits for desert,
if you have desert.
Make a 3 X 5 card up and list the following:
1 Water (12 - 15 glasses a day)
2 Vegetables and fiber (Main part of meals)
3 Proteins
4 Fats
5 Fruits as your desert choice
Take the card everywhere you go, before eating or planning a meal pull the
card out and look at it, your choices are easy now, start with 1 as your
preferred drink, 2 should be your major part of the meal (look for the salad
or vegetarian menu choice), 3 protein should be the size of a deck of playing
cards about 4 oz, fats are not all bad and we need essential fatty acids, but
fats should consist of less than 15-20 % of your diet. Olive oil, fats from deep sea fish and a small amounts of nuts and
seeds on salad to dress it up should cover the fat requirement in your diet.
Start a garden and grow vegetables and herbs, this is the beginning of your increased physical activity, spend
sometime everyday in your garden, pruning, weeding, watering, etc. Begin walking everyday, start with a small
distance, and add onto it as you progress. You will be amazed by this simple change in your life.
Spice up your meals with culinary herbs you are growing in your garden, dry them for winter use at the end of your
growing season.
Remember most fruits are also full of sugar and should be your dessert of chose if you have dessert at all.
If you have a craving for sweats bitter formulas taken 5 - 10 before meals can help.
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