Natural help
Many herbs, in the form of teas and other preparations, can help to control hunger and anxiety. Some essential oils for topical use have similar benefits, also of natural origin, ideal for lifting the spirits and calming anxiety.
+ Nature offers infinite resources for controlling our weight and reducing fats, through relieving the anxiety that makes some people console their worries with food. Some medicinal plants can be found more easily than others depending on where you live.
Horsetail
(Equisetum sp)
• Parts used. The dried stems which have an aroma similar to camomile. It is used to prepare infusions and decoctions as well as to make tinctures.
• This herb has powerful diuretic properties. It helps to clean your urine tract (detoxifying action), it purifies the blood and may aid in weight loss.
NOTE
You should always consult your physician before starting any herbal treatment.
DIURETIC DOSES
In infusion. Place 2 teaspoons of horsetail in 1 cup with boiling water. Let steep for 15 minutes, drain and drink 2 or 3 times a day.
In decoction. Boil 2 teaspoons of horsetail in 1 cup of water over a low heat for at least ½ hour to extract its minerals. Drink 2 times a day. You can prepare a larger amount, and keep it in a jar in the refrigerator to drink cold.
In tincture. Take 2 teaspoons of horsetail tincture diluted in a glass of water 3 times a day.
• Warning In cases of blood in the urine or sudden changes in menstrual flow, consult your doctor. You should not use this herb during pregnancy.
Bladder wrack
(Fucus vesiculosus)
• Parts used. The entire plant, which is a dark brown algae. It can be used to prepare infusions; it can also be used in powder form, capsules and tinctures.
• It is a source of iodine and potassium. In the case of dysfunctional thyroid glands, iodine stimulates their secretion.
• Stimulates the metabolism and aids in weight loss, especially for cases of obesity with symptoms of fatigue.
• Warning. Do not administer to children under 5 years of age. You shouldn't take this herbal remedy during pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding. If you have thyroid gland dysfunction, you should use this herbal remedy under strict medical prescription.
RECOMMENDED DOSE
• In capsules or tablets. Take 1 bladder wrack tablet 3 times a day, or follow the instructions on the container, or consult your physician.
• Dried. Take 1 to 2 tablespoons daily, you can add it to your meal or soup.
• In infusion. Use 2 teaspoons in an infusion. Let steep for 3 to 4 minutes, until the infusion has taken on a deep color. Drink 1 to 2 cups daily. For children we recommend using half the dose.
ESSENTIAL OILS FROM A TO Z
CLARY SAGE
In inhalations or massages, promotes well-being and balance. It can be used to help control your weight, because it tends to decrease hunger. It helps to bring on relaxing sleep, preventing late night snacking. You can add a few drops to a warm bath before going to bed, along with a few drops of geranium or lavender.
Safety. It can have sedative effects, making it difficult to concentrate. Do not operate heavy equipment or drive after using clary sage.
CYPRESS
This essential oil is used for inhalations or to aromatize the room when you are feeling the anxiousness that makes you feel hungry.
Safety. When using during massages, do not apply pressure to varicose veins. This oil could warm up the zone and cause discomfort.
WARNING
Essential oils are for external use only, they should never be ingested. Keep stored away from children and keep away from your eyes.
Gambooge
(Garcinina cambogia)
• Parts used. The flesh of the fruit and the bark, wich are used to make dry or liquid extracts.
• Hidroxycitric acid is obtained from the extracts of this plant, which is native to India. In the south of that country the bark is used in powder form as a condiment.
• It is a powerful agent against obesity, because the hidroxycitric acid blocks the synthesis of fatty acids and accelerate the burning of fats by the liver.
• Controls appetite, thus reducing food intake.
• Helps in treatement of overweight without affecting the muscle mass.
• There are not contra indications for its use.
GAMBOOGE FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Drink 25-30 drops of fluid extract 3 times per day. Where dry extract (powder) is used, take 2,000 mg (in pill or capsule form). Whether in fluid or dry form, gambooge must be taken before meals and must be consumed as part of a diet recommended by a doctor or dietary specialist.
Glucomannan
(Amorphophalus konjac)
• Parts used. The stems that grow under the ground are used to make capsules and powder.
• This plant comes from Southern China, Vietnam and Japan.
• This vegetable fiber is widely used in weight loss plans. It has the capacity to absorb 100 times its weight in water, producing a feeling of fullness.
• Like many soluble fibers, glucomannan can bind with a variety of substances in the digestive tract to slow digestion, relieve constipation and reduce the absorption of fat and carbohydrates.
• This herb increases the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the bones. It is recommended for women in menopause, a stage in life where women generally gain weight and lose calcium mass in their bones. This herb also provides vitamin B 6 , which helps to relieve premenstrual syndrome.
• Decreases the levels of cholesterol in the body, because it traps cholesterol in bile acids and increases excretion.
• Warning. This herb is not recommended if you suffer from stretched out or the narrowing of respiratory tract or digestive tract.
SLIMMING DOSE
• In capsule or pill forms. Take 1 or 2 capsules of glucomannan 500-750 mg with at least 2 glasses of water or juice ½ hour before meals.
• Dried powder. Dilute 1,500 mg of glucomannan powder in fruit juice. Slowly sip ½ hour before meals. Then drink 1 or 2 glasses of water.
Bitter orange
(Citrus aurantium)
• Parts used. The fruit, green or ripe and the flowers and leaves are used in infusions and decoctions. They are also used to make extracts and essential oils.
ESSENTIAL OILS FROM A TO Z
GERANIUM
This essential oil with its euphoric aroma is used in cellulitis fighting massages, because its properties help to increase circulation. A few drops in a hot bath can help you relax. A few drops in a tepid bath will revitalize you. Blended with bergamot it can help relieve the states of depression and nervousness that are common for overweight people.
Safety. You should always dilute geranium, because it can irritate the skin when used in pure form.
JUNIPER
Inhaling this aroma helps to clear the mind, lift up your spirits and increase your self-esteem, especially if you are overweight. When used in massages, it can help reduce cellulitis, because it relieves water retention in the body. To increase its properties you can blend it with geranium and grapefruit.
Safety. You shouldn't use juniper during pregnancy because this essential oil can induce labor.
RECOMMENDED DOSE
• Infusion with leaves. Let 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of bitter orange leaves steep per 4 cups of boiling water. Drain and drink 2 to 3 cups per day.
• Infusion with flowers. Add ½ teaspoon of bitter orange flowers to 1 cup of boiling water. Let sit for 10 minutes. Drink 2 to 3 cups per day.
• Native to China, this plant's medicinal properties have been utilized since the Middle Ages by Arabic healers.
• This herb helps in weight loss, because it is a diuretic and stimulates digestion. It is also used as a sedative, calming the nervousness that may cause you to eat.
• This herb doesn't only induce weight loss, but also improves physical well-being. It also helps to tone the muscles.
• The green fruits have greater therapeutic properties than the ripe fruits.
• This plant contains vitamins A, B, C and flavonoids. It also contains synephrine, a component that has been proven to diminish the appetite without causing headaches. Many over the counter diet drugs contain isolated synephrine extracted from this plant.
• Warning. In some cases this herb can cause contractions during pregnancy. It shouldn't be used topically on children under 6 years of age or for people who suffer from respiratory problems.
Green tea
(Camelia sinensis)
• Parts used. The stems and leaves are used in infusions.
• Green tea is made from the shoots of the Camelia sinensis tree, the same as common tea. The differences is in the amount of fermentation of these shoots.
• According to history, this spice was discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. While taking a break in a hunting expedition, some green tea leaves fell into a pot where he was boiling water. The emperor was surprised by the drink's color and aroma. When he tried it he found that it was relaxing and invigorating.
• This tea is rich in minerals, vitamins A, B and C and volatile oils.
DIGESTIVE GREEN TEA
We recommend buying green tea in small quantities to guarantee freshness. To prepare boil 4 cups of water and let it cool for 5 minutes. Add the tea -1 teaspoon per cup- into the teapot, previously warmed with hot water. Pour the boiled water on top and let steep for 2 to 3 minutes. The sooner you drink the tea, the more stimulating the effect. However, if you wait more than 5 minutes, the tea will be more relaxing. Healthy dose: up to 3 cups per day.
ESSENTIAL OILS FROM A TO Z
LAVENDER
This essential oil is recommended for weight control, because it helps relieve the symptoms of stress that may create the urge to overeat. Blended with marjoram it can have a calming effect.
Safety. This essential oil can cause drowsiness for people who suffer from low blood pressure. Do not use during pregnancy.
LEMON
Applying lemon essential oil externally helps to clear your mind, get over the hunger and emotional confusion related to weight gain. In massages it can help to fight cellulitis and to relieve varicose veins because it has decongestive properties.
Safety. Make sure to dilute this essential oil when using topically. It's best to avoid direct sunlight after using lemon essential oil because it increases your skin's photosensitivity.
• Green tea is a powerful antioxidant. In addition, the tannins found in green tea have an astringent effect on the intestinal tract, helping to absorb nutrients and flush out impurities, helping in weight loss.
• Warning. Excessive amounts of tea can harm the liver, cause constipation, and because of its caffeine content, cause irritability and heart palpitations.
Yerba maté
(Ilex paraguariensis)
• Parts used. The leaves are used to make infusions or to make capsules and tinctures.
• This plant grows in South America, in the bordering region between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The native indigenous people from this zone, the Guaraní, macerated the leaves for days and then drank the infusion as a remedy for a number of illnesses. They also used it as an elixir to energize and comfort.
• Yerba maté helps in weight loss, because of its chemical substances such as the xanthines and thermogenie found in it. They have lipolytic properties that allow the body to break down fat and turn it into energy.
• It is a natural diuretic and laxative. It is also a powerful stimulant. Yerba maté contains vitamins, including vitamin C, complex B vitamins, minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and antioxidants.
THERAPEUTIC DOSE
• In pill or capsule forms. Generally, 2,000 mg taken in 2 to 3 doses to take advantage of its thermogenie effects to help you absorb fat.
• In a tincture. Use yerba maté drops as a tonic and diuretic. It's recommended 40 drops 3 times a day.
TIP
• Don't use special spoons for infusing tea, because the leaves become packed so that the components aren't released. The ideal is for the leaves to float in the water.
• Don't prepare a greater quantity than you will drink in an hour's time. However, depending on the variety of green tea used, you can reuse the leaves. A tablespoon can be used for 4 cups. If there's tea left after infusing, remove the leaves from the water, so they don't leave a bitter taste.
CORRECT WAY TO PREPARE MATÉ
This drink is very popular in many parts of South America. It is traditionally drank in a wood or metal container or gourd. A bombilla (metal filter straw) is used to sip the hot beverage. To prepare the yerba maté infusion, place the dried minced leaves of yerba maté inside the maté cup, and moisten with cool water -let sit for a minute or so. Next add hot water, below boiling degree (approx. 158 °F/70 °C), this is called “cebar el mate”. You can also substitute hot water for very cold water and lemon, and drink through a bombilla.
• It can be enjoyed hot in a variety of ways, including in the traditional gourd with a bombilla (metal filter straw) or prepared as tea, with the leaves or bags similar to tea bags.
• Warning. This drink is not recommended for anxiety, high blood pressure, heart complications, insomnia, gastritis or duodenal ulcers.
ESSENTIAL OILS FROM A TO Z
PATCHOULI
This essential's aroma helps to reduce the appetite and increase your energy. It is recommended for use in cellulitis fighting massages, because it helps to reduce water retention. Because of its evoking properties it's recommended to use in a room for meditation. This oil's effects increase if mixed with pine or myrrh.
Safety. In reduced amounts this oil can work as a sedative, in high doses as a stimulant.
ROSE
It has aromatic effects, especially for the physiological and emotional discomforts suffered by women. It acts as a slight anti-depressant, helping to relieve the anxiety caused by weight gain. In a warm bath it can be blended with jasmine and sandalwood to lift up your spirits.
Safety. Do not use during the first four months of pregnancy.
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