Herbal Phen-Fen

What herbs Can & Cannot do

Dieters Switch to Herbal- Why?

Components of Herbal Phen-Fen

Testimonials and Doctors’ Advice on Herbal Supplements

Commercialization and Media Influence on Herbal Supplements

Alternatives to Herbal Phen-Fen

What Herbs Can & Cannot Do

Is Natural always safe and effective?

Herbal Phen-Fen Alternative Weight Loss- An Herbal Health Product

Viable Herbal Solutions

Drugs and Procedures used to treat excess weight:

What Are Drugs and Procedures Used to Treat Excess Weight?

Drugs used for weight loss are generally called anorexiants. Most lose their effectiveness over time, thus requiring increased dosage, and they can be addictive and dangerous. None of these drugs deals with the underlying problems that may be causing obesity. Unless specifically instructed by a physician, people should use non-drug methods for losing weight. Except under rare circumstances, pregnant or nursing women should never take diet medications of any sort, including herbal and over-the-counter remedies.

Over-The-Counter Diet and Herbal Remedies

People must be cautious when using any weight-loss medications, including over-the counter diet pills and herbal or so-called natural remedies. Over-the-counter diet pills that contain phenylpropanolamine (Acutrim, Dexatrim) have been known to cause severe high blood pressure and stroke if taken in doses of 75 mg or higher in the immediate-release form. The so-called "herbal fen-phen" remedies (Herbal Phen-Fen, PhenTrim, Phen-Cal) contain ephedrine, derived from the ephedra (also known as Ma Huang) herb. Studies have reported severe effects (rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, psychosis, and seizures) from over-the-counter remedies that contain even small amounts of ephedrine. Eighteen deaths have occurred with its use since 1994, mostly from heart attack and stroke. Dietary supplements, teas, and laxatives that list the ingredient plantain may contain digitalis, a powerful chemical that effects the heart. (This should not be confused with the harmless banana-like plant also called plantain.) Many dietary herbal teas contain laxatives, which can cause gastrointestinal distress, and, if overused, may lead to chronic pain, constipation, and dependency. In rare cases, dehydration and death have occurred. Some laxative substances found in teas include senna, aloe, buckthorn, rhubarb root, cascara, and castor oil. Some fiber supplements containing guar gum have also caused obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Serotonin-Releasing Anorexiants

Some diet pills work by increasing the availability of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that prevents depression and reduces calorie consumption. Unfortunately, the most popular of these drugs have very serious side effects, including development of abnormalities in the valves of the heart and, uncommonly, a potentially life-threatening condition called pulmonary hypertension. As a result, dexfenfluramine (Redux), fenfluramine (Pondimin), and the combination drug commonly called fen-phenfenfluramine (Pondimin) combined with another anti-obesity drug called phentermine -- have been pulled from the market. Phentermine (Ionamin, Adipex, Fastin) is still available. Studies are underway to determine whether these valvular abnormalities will eventually reverse after withdrawal from the drug. Recent ones have reported that the increased risks for valvular problems range from between 2% and 24% in people who took these drugs. The risks are highest in people taking the drugs for long periods or in high doses. Taking the drugs for a short period (two to three months) appears to do no harm. Some experts urge that all patients who were treated with Redux, Pondimin, or phen-fen for more than three months have a thorough cardiovascular exam, including an echocardiogram. Many women who have valvular abnormalities had been taking multiples of the recommended dosages. Others were also on Prozac, an antidepressant that also increases serotonin and intensifies the effects of the diet drugs. It should be noted that taking phentermine (which is still available) along with Prozac or similar drugs known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors or the antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors can have similar dangerous effects.

(courtesy of http://webmd.lycos.com/content/dmk/dmk_article_40062)