For most Americans, the dreaded image of obesity summons up images of hours spent slogging on treadmills and eating carrots as treatment. However the Chinese have something different in mind--or in body, one might add, since both are one these days. It’s called traditional Chinese medicine and it involves a medley of exotic therapies from accupuncture to herbs and various forms of very moderate physical activity.

While sticking needles into yourself and burning rods of manure just above your belly might not sound much better than the treadmill, in actuality Chinese medicine is completely painless and even relaxing. And it works. In one recent study by Liu et al. it was found that acupuncture and moxibustion (pins and burning herbs in layman’s terms) was helpful in obesity complicated by cardiovascular disease. The study found that the therapies were effective at a rate of 88.24%. At the same time, acupuncture and moxibustion were found to have a benign conversion effect on some physical markers that Chinese medicine uses to assess its efficacy: the loin hip ratio (the pathogenetic factor), the arteriosclerotic index (the hazardous factor), and the vegetative nerve function of regulating the heart and blood vessels (the equilibrium indices of the vegetative nervous system) all improved with the treatments.

Just how common is obesity? Recent surveys have shown that more than one-third of Americans over the age of 25 are considered overweight and thus, it is no surprise that the diet industry logs more than $5.6 billion in sales each year. Unfortunately, however, most weight loss products do not work-or at least do not work well. Some may even produce harmful side effects that outweigh any weight loss benefits. Fen-Phen is one of those products.

However, in their quest for weight loss, consumers are undeterred by potential side effects. The issue for consumers is not one of safety but of results. Therefore, it is the industry members’ responsibility to provide safe yet efficacious products.

Weight management is a long-term challenge that requires a long-term program. Consequently, the best discipline includes mind-body and physical exercises, balanced diet and a natural diet aid, which should have balanced herbal combinations and other dietary supplements as part of a safe weight-loss management program.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the condition of excess body weight is believed to be associated with an imbalance of specific organ energies which can be clinically grouped and treated accordingly. For example, spleen-stomach heat and dampness syndrome is believed to be associated with hunger, swelling of the gums and a constant thirst for cold drinks.

Because weight problems are so complex, symptoms often mix and/or overlap, and are consequently difficult to separate; meaning a single chemical or herb simply cannot solve the problem. For example, large amounts of a stimulant herb such as Ma huang or ephedrine increase metabolism and body energy which often results in weight loss. However, the use of this herb in high doses causes dangerous side effects including insomnia, heart palpitations and high blood pressure. In comparison, safe herbs such as green tea, hawthorn berry, cassia (Cassia tora) and he shou wu have been recorded as weight-loss helpers for Herbs thousands of years. Yet, they have to be used for an extended period of time to be effective when used alone.

The focus, then, falls on spleen/stomach energy. According to the Taoist "Five Element" theory, liver/gall bladder energy controls spleen/stomach energy, and kidney energy supports liver energy. Balancing of liver/gall bladder energy and spleen/stomach energy by herbal combinations has been shown to be successful for weight loss for thousands of years in TCM history. The following is a group of herbs that have been used for weight control in TCM.

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) has been used for thousands of years to improve digestion and to help with bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Bitter orange contains synephrine, nobiletin and large amounts of vitamins A, B and C. Small amounts of synephrine in bitter orange improve the digestive system and increase energy, while a large amount of synephrine may have a calming effect. In addition, the naturally occurring amounts of synephrine and other phytonutrients in bitter orange offer a decongestant effect. The nobiletin found in bitter orange gives chemoprevention against certain cancers and leukemia, and also provides gastric muscle protection. In addition, nobiletin exerts anti-ulcer effects and modulates colonic secretion.

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has anti-inflammatory, astringent, sedative, antidepressant, antibacterial and antiviral effects. The herb has also been used for bladder ailments. Its blood refrigerant, homeostatic and astringent effects combined with bitter orange and other herbs may contribute to the balance of liver/gall bladder energy and spleen/stomach energy for weight loss. St. John’s wort has been used in TCM for Liver-yin and Kidney-yin deficiency and only recently has been recognized by Western medical practitioners.

Cassia is a natural-acting laxative that is safe and effective for chronic constipation. It also clears blood fat (cholesterol and tryglycerides and lowers blood pressure.

Eucommia is a liver and kidney tonic and is a nutrient to bones, sinew and cartilage. This herb decreases colonic absorption of cholesterol; lowers blood pressure effectively; relieves headache, insomnia and lumbago due to kidney deficiency; eases dizziness associated with high blood pressure; and prevents miscarriage.

Recent studies also indicated that eucommia decreases the chance of chromosomal break induced by carcinogens in contaminated food.

Lycium berry is a liver-yin and kidney-yin tonic which enhances the effects of St. John’s wort. It protects against liver damage and anti-fatty liver, lowers blood pressure and beautifies the skin.

Rebmannia is a blood-nurturing herb, which is good for kidney-yin deficiency Laboratory studies indicate that rehmannia increases interlukins and T-lymphocytes.

Oriental ginseng (Panax ginseng) enhances total body qi.

Kudzu and ginkgo improve circulation and enhance total herbal power in the body.

A proper program for weight loss should include a balanced formula with bitter orange and St. John’s wort as primary herbs. Other important herbs balance the combination and eliminate the possible side effects should include rehmannia, Oriental ginseng, kudzu, ginkgo, cassia, eucommia and lycium berries. This weight-loss formula is an example of an herbal combination that can deliver maximum weight-loss benefits without side effects.

References

Liu z; sun F; Li J; shi x; Hu L; Wang Y; Qian Z. Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of acupuncture on simple obesity complicated by cardiovascular diseases. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1992 Mar, 12(1):21-9.