9 Types of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Weight Loss
Which Chinese herbal medicine can help with weight loss? What are the Chinese herbs that have weight loss effects? Let's take a look at the 9 major Chinese herbal medicines for weight loss.
Obesity, once considered a symbol of wealth and prosperity, has now become a major health problem threatening humanity. Many obese individuals struggle to lose weight. To lose weight, one must have determination and incorporate both diet and exercise. In terms of diet, in addition to reducing the intake of fatty foods, one can also consume Chinese herbal foods that aid in weight loss. So, which Chinese herbal medicines can help with weight loss?
1. Lotus Leaf
Lotus leaf has a sweet and astringent taste, and it enters the spleen meridian. It is an excellent medicine for clearing heat. Some people have used dried lotus leaves to replace tea or cook porridge, and after 3 months of continuous consumption, their body weight decreased significantly, with noticeable reduction in blood lipids.
2. Poria Mushroom
Poria mushroom is a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of pine trees. It resembles a sweet potato in shape, with a black-brown outer skin and white or pink interior. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its diuretic and sedative effects. The medicinal part is the dried sclerotium of the poria mushroom, which often parasitizes on the roots of Masson pine or Chinese red pine.
3. Hawthorn
Hawthorn, also known as "Shan Li Hong" or "Yan Zhi Guo", has high nutritional and medicinal value. In addition to being consumed fresh, hawthorn can be processed into hawthorn slices, fruit leather, hawthorn cakes, hawthorn jam, preserved hawthorn, hawthorn wine, etc. Hawthorn slices and hawthorn fruit leather are the most common and popular varieties.
4. Cassia Seed
Cassia seed is the mature seed of the legume plant Cassia obtusifolia, also known as "grass cassia". According to the "Shennong Ben Cao Jing" (Shennong's Herbal Classic), cassia seed has a slightly bitter and cold taste and belongs to the liver, gallbladder, and kidney meridians. It has the functions of clearing the liver, improving eyesight, moisturizing the intestines, promoting bowel movements, reducing fat, and slimming. It can be used for headaches, dizziness, red and swollen eyes, and constipation. In recent years, it has also been used in the treatment of hypertension.
5. Adzuki Bean
Adzuki beans have a sweet and sour taste, and they enter the spleen, heart, and small intestine meridians. They have good diuretic and detoxifying effects. The "Dietary Therapy Materia Medica" states, "Eating adzuki beans for a long time can make a person thin." Using adzuki beans for weight loss is particularly effective for obesity accompanied by edema.
6. Tangerine Peel
Tangerine peel is the dried mature fruit peel of the Rutaceae plant, Citrus reticulata Blanco, and its cultivated variants. The medicinal herb is divided into "Chenpi" and "Guangchenpi". Mature fruits are harvested, and the peel is removed and dried by sun exposure or low-temperature drying. Tangerine peel has a bitter and pungent taste, and it is warm in nature. It enters the lung and spleen meridians. It functions to regulate qi, invigorate the spleen, dry dampness, and resolve phlegm. It is used for chest and abdominal distension, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing with excessive phlegm, and other symptoms.
7. Spirulina
Spirulina is a type of lower plant belonging to the phylum Cyanobacteria. It is also known as blue-green algae. Like bacteria, its cells do not have a true nucleus, hence it is also called blue-green bacteria. The cell structure of blue-green algae is primitive and very simple. It is the earliest photosynthetic organism on Earth and has survived for 3.5 billion years.
8. Kelp
Kelp has a salty and cold nature. It enters the liver, stomach, and kidney meridians. It has the effects of softening hard masses, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, and reducing fat. Modern research has shown that kelp contains fucoidan, a polysaccharide that is similar to heparin in low concentrations, and has the effect of reducing blood lipids.
9. Tea
Tea is one of the world's three major beverages. It has the functions of clearing the head, relieving thirst, resolving phlegm, aiding digestion, and promoting diuresis. Modern research has shown that tea can reduce serum cholesterol levels and the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids, and can prevent and treat hyperlipidemia. The caffeine in tea has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, reducing sleep and increasing energy expenditure.
In addition, the caffeine in tea also has diuretic and metabolic-stimulating effects. Therefore, drinking tea regularly is beneficial for health.
The above are 9 foods that can help with weight loss. If you want to lose weight, you can consume them in moderation. Additionally, it is important to exercise regularly.
