There is no doubt that natural herbs are a popular way for people to try to lose weight. There is a lot of doubt, however, about whether or not they actually work. Some are dangerous, though many are simply ineffective. Many marketers of these products use false testimony and inaccurate and fabricated medical science information to convince consumers that their products work. As the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements, many of these products go uninvestigated and are not subjected to clinical trials. The FDA frequently finds itself in a position to pull these types of products from the market, citing false advertising and lack of quality control.
The diet drug ephedra is possibly the most popular weight loss supplement that the FDA was forced to pull from the market. Ephedra is extracted from plants, and has a chemical makeup similar to that of amphetamine. Like amphetamines, ephedra jump-starts the central nervous system and heart. The end effect is that the consumer’s metabolism speeds up. Many people claim that ephedra worked for them. But the side effects can be deadly. Consumers all over the United States started having massive heart failure, strokes, and began complaining of phantom illnesses and pains. One thing stood out—many of them were also taking the dietary supplement Ephedra. Together, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and NCCAM (National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) issued consumer alerts in fall 2003. Eventually, the product was banned.
Another popular natural herbal weight loss supplement is Goji—often touted as the Asian weight loss secret. Advertisements often try to convince consumers that the United States government is purposely keeping this miracle herb from the public. Goji is thought by some to help the body convert calories into energy instead of storing calories as fat—in short, to increase metabolism. Goji is derived from the wolfberry, which grows wild in the Himalayas and Mongolia. Used for centuries in ancient Chinese medicine, wolfberries are known to contain high levels of many vital vitamins and nutrients, particularly vitamin C. While the nutritional make-up of these berries is verifiable, its health benefits are unstudied, and the radical claims made about their effectiveness for curing ailments, cleansing the body, and aiding weight loss may be unfounded.
It is true that natural herbs can help heal the body. Nature provides us with amazing ways to help keep ourselves healthy. However, there is no magic pill, herb, or supplement that can melt away body fat. Diet and exercise are the only tried and true methods for weight loss. Remember, it is always important to work with your physician, especially when deciding to use over the counter medicines and supplements.