Weight Loss & Colon Cleanse
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Hope C. Montford
Posted on: July 13, 1998

What herb(s) do I need to help me lose weight or as an appetite suppresant? Also, I need a good colon cleaner. What do you suggest?

Weight loss is most effectively achieved by a change in diet and an increase in exercise. Herbal teas can help by providing nutrients and providing an alternative to unhealthy snacks and drinks.

You should be eating 3 meals a day that include lots of fruit and vegetables, and exclude fatty meats, white sugar and white flour products, food additives, colourings and preservatives. Fruit should be eaten before a meal or between meals to ensure good digestion. Look at the possibility of food allergies, which will inhibit digestion, by keeping a diet diary that includes symptoms of indigestion with foods eaten. Common food allergens are milk products, eggs, oranges and gluten. Eliminate any likely food allergens from your diet. You should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day to flush out wastes.

Some drugs can cause a weight gain, including corticosteroids and birth control pills. Hormone imbalance can also be a factor. You can request a hormone test by your doctor. Depending on the results, herbal remedies can be useful in balancing the hormones.

Dr. Dean Ornish’s book "Eat More, Weigh Less", (Harper Collis Publishers) is helpful. It describes the basic philosophy behind a fat free diet and includes hundreds of delicious recipes.

Colon cleansing is supported by a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains, providing the fibre required to stimulate the bowels and eliminating foods that are difficult to process. Daily exercise and drinking lots of water are required for effective elimination. The juice of half a lemon in water, first thing in the morning, before food, stimulates the bowels. Below is a list of herbs for general cleansing. In cleansing the colon, all systems of elimination should be supported to function well so that any toxins produced by the metabolism can be efficiently eliminated.

The organs of detoxification are the liver, kidney, bowels, lungs and skin. The blood carries nutrients to the body cells, and the lymph glands both carry nutrients to the blood & carry waste products away for removal. Herbal detoxification helps to break down the toxins and supports the organs of elimination. Dandelion leaf supports urination, dandelion root and milk thistle (Carduus marianus) the liver, Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus), Burdock (Arctium lappa) and Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) support the blood, Poke root (Phytolacca americana) and Red Clover the support lymphatics, Mullein (Verbascum thapus) the lungs, Chamomile and Yellow Dock the skin, and Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. If you are using alcoholic extracts of the herbs, splash them first with boiling water to dissipate the alcohol.

The detoxification process will be aided by avoiding processed foods and any foods with additives, chemicals, sugar or salt . Avoid smoking, coffee, tea and alcohol. An organic, vegetarian diet is your best bet, as meat takes longer for the body to process, providing more work for the organs of detoxification. Exercise and hot baths promote circulation and sweating to help clear toxins. Unless you have high blood pressure, heart or circulation problems, have a long, very hot bath followed by a quick cold shower each day. Drink 8 - 12 cups of spring water or herbal tea a day to help the kidneys flush out toxins.

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