Obesity
“Live on Sixpence a day,
and earn it“
Obesity and being overweight are most often associated with the body consuming more calories than is burned. In these cases, reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise benefit in the long term. However, a large percentage of people who are overweight are primarily holding on to fluid. They are puffy, with swollen ankles and swollen fingers. These types are often fed as much by what they drink as what they eat. Avoiding excess fluid, avoiding cold drinks and tending towards drinks with a mild diuretic effect
Of course there are people with Obesity who have metabolic disorders. The majority of these cases fall into a Yang Deficiency (lack of Innate Heat), or Cold-type disorder. This is often associated with underactive Thyroid, and in these cases Warming medicines that strengthen Yang work well.
In Humoral medicine, this is generally a Phlegm-Damp condition, and medicines which warm and clear Damp or clear Damp, increase digestion and promote Urine are generally prescribed. Phlegm purgatives may also be indicated. In addition, a weakening of the Digestive Fire (Agni, or Spleen Yang) is also associated. Therefore warming medicines that stimulate digestion are likewise indicated.
Lekhaniya
Ayurveda has the group of medicines called Lekhaniya, used to thin the tissues and reduce Fat:
Cyperus rotundus, Apoitaxis auriculata, Tumeric, Berberis asiatica, Calamus, Aconitum heterophyllum, Picrorhiza, Plumbago zeylanica root, Pongamia glabra, Calamus (white variety)
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Western Tradition Simples
Simple Recipes: 1. Take a clove of Garlic every morning 2. Fennel seed tea 3. Warm Vinegar (4 oz.) taken every morning with Black Pepper, fasting afterwards. 4. Wine of Sour Pomegranates Syrup of Two Opening Roots Powder Against Obesity Powder for Obesity of Dr. Goedelsteyn Powder of the Countess of Castel Powder to Make Thin (Safoof Mohazzil) (Unani) |
TCM Classification Simples
Clear Food Stagnation Bao He Wan Clear Phlegm-Damp Er Chen Tang Ping Wei San |
Special Formulas:
1. Ginger, Black Pepper, Fennel seed, Cyperus rotundus
2. Embelia, Cyperus rotundus, Plumbago (this is called Trimad and has proven efficacy)
3. Lacca, Cyperus rotundus, Black Pepper
4. Senna, Fennel seed, Cumin seed, Coriander seed, Cinnamon, Ginger
5. Shilajit, Bdellium (Guggulu), Garlic. This is available as an OTC patent medicine for hypercholesterolemia and obesity.
6. Epdedra, Rhubarb, Laminaria (this has been studied)
7. Atyractylodes Bai Zhu, Amomum villosum
Research
–Natural products: a safest approach for obesity.