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Is Homeopathic Medicine Safe for Weight Loss?

Homeopathic medicines are used in a variety of situations and ailments. For some people looking to lose weight, homeopathic treatments can treat everything from cravings to specific digestive problems. Is it safe however?

  1. What is Homeopathy?

    • Coming from the Greek words "homoios" meaning "similar" and "pathos" meaning "suffering," homeopathy is an alternative style of medicine that uses small and heavily diluted doses of a natural substance in order to make a remedy.

      If taken in larger doses, the same remedy would produce the same symptoms that the remedy is aiming to treat. Called the "law of similars," homeopathy has been used for centuries.

    Statistics

    • According to the Center for Disease Control, over 2/3 of Americans are obese or overweight and childhood obesity has nearly tripled since 1980. Racial and ethnicity wise, African-Americans have a 51% higher prevalence to obesity while Hispanics clock in at 21% more prevalence than Caucasians.

      In 2007, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), concluded that 25.6% of Americans are overweight with a gender breakdown of 26.4% being men and 24.8% being women.

      Obesity is defined by calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI) as more than 30. BMI is calculated using the height and weight measurements for each person.

    Common Treatments

    • Homeopathic remedies often aim at improving digestion, elimination of waste and cravings as well as raising metabolism.

      Common treatments are as follows:

      Antimonium crudum is suggested for those who become irritated when being told not to overeat.
      Argentum nitricum reduces sweet cravings while Calcarea carbonica is used to help control those who have difficulty controlling their appetites, have problems with indigestion and eat primarily to calm down.

      Capsicum is recommeded for those who are lazy, have red faces and suffer a burning sensation in their digestive tract. Graphites are popular for perimenopausal women who are pale and sensitive to cold, with constipation, skin problems and trouble losing weight.

      Finally, Staphysagria is usually prescribed for those who eat out of repressed anger.

    Safety

    • As homeopathic medications are all-natural, side effects are rarely felt, if at all, if taken as prescribed. Because of the high dilution each tincture undergoes, the substances are no longer whole molecules and therefore become non-allergenic, non-poisonous and non-addictive.

      Minerals, herbs and substances used are all approved and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Conclusions

    • While there has been no definitive study done to show concrete results on homeopathic medicines and their effects on weight loss, there have been "mini-trials" that show cravings have been reduced, more energy is produced for exercise and patients have a general more positive outlook on life.

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