- Excess weight in Chinese medicine
- 4 Chinese plants for losing weight naturally
- Dong kui zi (Mallow): a draining plant
- Dong gua pi (Wax Gourd skin): for eliminating excess water
- Guarana: a formidable fat burner
- Lü cha (Green tea): the perfect slimming ally
When excess weight is due to poor eating habits and a lack of physical exercise, it is possible to shed the extra kilos by arming yourself with determination and, above all, by making the right decisions! It's no longer a secret to anyone: losing weight generally means rebalancing your diet. Indeed, what we put on our plates has a considerable influence on our health, but also on our weight…
Medicinal plants are a major help in supporting your efforts: some help you lose weight naturally and refine your figure by promoting fat elimination, reducing appetite and speeding up metabolism… Alongside a healthy lifestyle, they make weight loss easier. Losing weight naturally, without going through diet after diet and without frustration, is possible!
What are the most effective slimming plants? What does traditional Chinese medicine recommend for losing weight naturally?
Excess weight in Chinese medicine
Weight gain is generally the result of an unhealthy lifestyle, caused in particular by an unbalanced diet combined with a lack of physical activity. However, weight gain can sometimes be determined by other factors such as genetic predisposition, hormones (the menstrual cycle, the contraceptive pill, menopause) or taking certain medicines (such as antidepressants, for example).
Traditional Chinese medicine approaches this problem from an energetic angle. It explains weight gain through several syndromes (see the causes of weight gain in TCM):
- Dampness obstructing the Spleen
- Liver Qi Stagnation
- excess Heat in the Stomach
Generally, these syndromes lead to excess weight, a lack of strength, breathing difficulties, digestive disorders and a recurring feeling of hunger, usually shortly after eating.
To lose weight naturally, Chinese medicine recommends treating the origin of the weight gain. Once the practitioner has carried out an assessment and pinpointed the source of the problem, several solutions are available: acupuncture sessions, to regulate hunger and strengthen the digestive system; Qi gong and Tai chi, to boost metabolism and get back into physical activity; or (a complete treatment combining the different methods would be ideal!) the use of medicinal plants, recognised by science as an effective and healthy way to reduce appetite and promote weight loss. But which plants are effective for losing weight?
4 Chinese plants for losing weight naturally
Dong kui zi (Mallow): a draining plant
Mallow is native to China, and its seeds (Dong kui zi in Chinese) are known for their draining properties, which contribute to weight loss. Indeed, Dong kui zi promotes the elimination of fats and drains excess water so as to combat water retention. This plant, with its many benefits for the body, was moreover classed among the herbs that eliminate toxins and fats by the famous Chinese physician Li Shizhen in his work Bencao Gangmu.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong Kui Zi is traditionally used to promote the circulation of fluids and support the balance of Dampness in the body, a factor often associated with a feeling of heaviness. It also supports intestinal comfort and contributes to smoother natural elimination. As part of a balanced routine, Dong Kui Zi is a supporting plant for anyone who wishes to regain lightness and harmony from within.
Dong gua pi (Wax Gourd skin): for eliminating excess water
The wax gourd is a fruit native to the Far East whose taste recalls that of cucumber. It is an ingredient of choice that is good to have in the cupboard, since it contains a lot of water and is very low in calories.
Chinese medicine attributes many benefits for the body to its skin (Dong gua pi in Chinese), notably slimming virtues. Indeed, Dong gua pi effectively drains excess Heat and Dampness present in the body: it purifies the body by stimulating elimination via the kidneys and by evacuating excess water.
Guarana: a formidable fat burner
Renowned the world over for its stimulating properties (it has a high caffeine content), guarana, also called “Brazilian cocoa”, is native to Brazil. The powerful slimming and energising effect of its red berries has recently aroused the interest of traditional Chinese medicine...
Indeed, guarana is known to promote weight loss. In fact, it is a formidable fat burner, frequently recommended to support slimming goals. It is said that, in times of famine, the Amerindians of the Amazon consumed it to better withstand hunger. Several studies have moreover confirmed this plant's potential for fighting obesity2: theobromine and theophylline, active substances contained in guarana berries, help to reduce appetite and promote a feeling of fullness. In addition, guarana aids digestion and relieves discomforts such as bloating, intestinal disorders, diarrhoea, etc.
Besides its slimming virtues, guarana, thanks to its guaranine content, fights fatigue and stimulates the body while providing a feeling of well-being. Be careful, however, not to exceed the recommended doses! As it is rich in caffeine, it should not be combined with other products or plants containing caffeine, to avoid overdosing.
Lü cha (Green tea): the perfect slimming ally
The most widely consumed drink in most Asian countries, green tea has many beneficial properties for the body. In TCM, it is used to expel Dampness and is indicated for people who want to lose weight.
On its own or combined with other medicinal plants, green tea is well known and widely recognised for stimulating metabolism, notably thanks to two substances it contains: caffeine (or theine) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Caffeine boosts fat-burning reactions in the body. So, as well as increasing metabolism in order to stimulate calorie burning, green tea has a fat-burning action. It is also recognised as having a calming effect on hunger (one cup of green tea and snack cravings evaporate!) as well as effects on cellulite, thanks to its draining properties.
Diets that demand deprivation are widely advised against, since they create all kinds of frustration and all too often end in failure. In addition to the usual lifestyle and dietary advice (balancing your plate, doing physical activity, sleeping well, etc.), which it is essential to follow, Chinese medicine offers to support your slimming efforts by targeting the source of the weight gain and establishing a treatment adapted to each individual.
True natural treasures, certain plants will help you reach your goals naturally while taking care of your body!
