How to Lose Weight with Haw Flakes

Haw flakes are derived from Hawthorne, a flower or tree with edible berries. They are often mistaken for cranberries. Hawthorne itself is believed to help shed pounds by boosting your metabolism, as the plant emulsifies fat, converting it into energy. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, Hawthorne is a powerful diuretic in natural medicine, helping you lose water weight. Haw flakes, however, are sugar-coated candied versions of Hawthorne. Thus, there is some debate on whether the flakes do, in fact, help you lose weight. It's difficult to find dried or fresh Hawthorne on the market, but haw flakes are available in Chinatown, at Chinese markets and Chinese herbal stores.

Instructions

• 1

  Bring Haw flakes with you as a portable fruit snack. They taste like crabapple or cranberry. The consistency is somewhat granular and dry, with a paper-like feel.

• 2

  Let the haw flakes dissolve on top of your tongue or chew them until they are gone. The flat, round discs fit well on top of your tongue. They can also be smashed up and put into recipes, or melted into syrups and creams.

• 3

  Talk to a herbal practitioner to determine how much haw flake to take daily. The dosage depends on your body weight and health condition. A licensed herbal practitioner can give you a specific dosage. The package doesn't usually specify how much to take.

• 4

  Use a weight-loss supplement that contains haw flakes. There are some on the market that contain haw, along with other ingredients to promote weight loss, such as lotus, bamboo vinegar, Chinese knotweed and licorice.