Chinese herbal medicine can help regulate the organs and endocrine system by promoting water elimination, strengthening the spleen, and improving blood circulation and qi flow. This can facilitate the removal of excess water, metabolic waste, and toxins from the body, and accelerate metabolism. However, it is important to remember that Chinese herbal medicine is still medicine, and herbal ingredients have their own properties and contraindications. Weight loss medications are not automatically safe just because they contain Chinese herbs.
Chinese herbs used for body shaping and beauty can be broadly classified into four categories based on their effects:
Digestive aids: Examples include hawthorn, malt, and barley sprouts, which help with digestion and relieve stagnation. Hawthorn, in particular, contains various acids such as malic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid, which can promote bile and gastric secretion and aid in the breakdown of greasy food, especially animal fats.
Diuretic and dampness-expelling herbs: Examples include water plantain, poria cocos, and plantago seed, which help eliminate excess water from the body. They can increase urine output, relieve dampness and heat, and reduce water retention.
Laxative herbs: Examples include rhubarb, cassia leaves, and polygonum multiflorum, which stimulate intestinal peristalsis and promote bowel movements. Rhubarb contains emodin and other anthraquinone derivatives, which have a strong purgative effect. Polygonum multiflorum, on the other hand, has a mild laxative effect and can create a feeling of fullness.
Lipid-lowering herbs: Examples include salvia miltiorrhiza, cassia obtusifolia, mulberry mistletoe, and cistanche deserticola. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a blood-regulating herb that can dilate peripheral blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and reduce fat. Cistanche deserticola belongs to the same category and has tonifying properties.
However, each of these four types of weight-loss Chinese herbs has its pros and cons. Digestive aids are the safest, but they can actually stimulate appetite because they clear out the waste in the digestive system, leaving it empty and craving for food.
Diuretic and dampness-expelling herbs can be effective in the short term, especially for people with edema-type obesity. However, long-term use can disrupt normal digestion and damage the spleen and kidney yin, causing more harm than benefit.
Laxatives are more dangerous. While they may help reduce stomach fat in the short term, prolonged use can make the intestines lose elasticity and affect normal bowel movements, nutrient absorption, and digestion.
Lipid-lowering herbs are relatively safe, as long as you have excessive fat and cholesterol storage in your body. Regular consumption can keep blood vessels clear and prevent fat globules from blocking the coronary arteries and causing serious conditions.
In reality, the most effective weight loss methods are exercise and dietary control. Chinese herbal medicine is just an additional support and enhancement. Relying solely on medication for weight loss is not a sustainable solution.
