Ayurvedic Herbs for Weight Management

What is Obesity ?

Obesity is a global public health concern, with about 315 million people world wide estimated to fall into the WHO defined obesity categories. India with its new age life style in the urban area is also falling prey to this dreaded phenomenon.

What is Obesity according to Ayurveda?

Obesity is defined as sthoulya in Ayurveda. Ayurveda acharyas explain the causes like avyayama (not exercising), divasvapa (sleeping in afternoons), Eating foods which are sweet, oily and starchy cause obesity. These lifestyles vitiate kapha dosha, vata dosha and medha dhatu or body fat which cause obesity.

Ayurvedic supplement for weight loss candidates:

Addressing obesity through ayurvedic weight loss methods is premised on adopting healthy eating habits and increasing physical activity. Ayurvedic herbs also help and supplement in the weight loss process .
Ayurveda acharyas recommend using herbs which have the following Ayurvedic pharmacological properties to address obesity and help in weight management.

1. Ruksha (tissue drying properties): This quality helps to dry body fat.
2. Tikshna (sharp )- herbs with this property can penetrate deep seated fat tissue and act on this tissue.
3. Ushna (hot potency)- This quality in a herb help to reduce the body fat.
4. Kapha vata hara – Herbs which normalise kapha and vata also normalise medha dhatu.
5. Lekhana (scraping)– Herbs which have this quality help to scrape body toxins and body fat.
6. Mutrala – Herbs which help in removing excess body water.

Herbs like Karela (bitter gourd or bitter melon), cinnamon, cardamom, black cardamom, jeera or cumin seeds, amla etc help in reducing sthoulya or body weight.

Effect of weight loss on other health conditions

According to ayurvedic physician Dr.Savitha C G

Weight reduction also helps in management of PCOS. Hence weight loss methods are included in ayurvedic treatment for PCOS.

Weight management also helps to overcome erectile dysfunction commonly experienced by obese men.