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I want to be honest with you about this topic from the outset: there is no herbal magic for weight loss. What herbal medicine can genuinely offer are plants that support the metabolic processes involved in weight management — improving insulin sensitivity, reducing appetite signals, supporting healthy thyroid function, aiding digestion, and helping manage the stress and sleep disruption that drive weight gain. Used intelligently as part of a comprehensive approach that includes dietary change and regular movement, these herbs have real value. The articles here take that honest, evidence-grounded approach — because I believe you deserve useful information, not false promises.
ASOHM News
29 July 2019
The name “carota” for the garden carrot is found first in the writings of Athenaes (AD 200) and in a cookery book by Apicius (AD 230). It appears Galen (AD 130-200) named it “daucus” to distinguish the carrot from the parsnip and in the eighteenth century, Daucus carota was adopted as the official botanical name. […]
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ASOHM News
9 July 2019
Fennel or Foenicuum vulgare will thrive anywhere and, as it self-sows easily, a plantation will last for years. Fennel is largely cultivated for its medicinal use in the south of Europe, Russia, India, and Persia (modern day Iran). Grown by the Romans for its aromatic fruits and edible shoots, Fennel was also used to ward […]
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ASOHM News
23 April 2019
In recent years, asparagus has been promoted and enjoyed as a “superfood” but, like so many foods and plants which are constantly being “rediscovered”, asparagus predates recorded history. In fact, it is first recorded as being used for food in 200 BC, and the Greeks and Romans boiled it so quickly that they developed a […]
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ASOHM News
3 November 2017
Most of us can improve our health by drinking more water. Water is one of our body’s most important nutrients, yet the simple advice to drink more water is often neglected by even health-minded people. Did you know that about 70 percent of our total body weight is made up of water? Therefore we need […]
Read article →Weight management is a complex, multifactorial process that reflects metabolism, hormonal balance, gut health, sleep, stress, and behaviour — not simply willpower or caloric arithmetic. The herbs discussed here address several of these dimensions.
Several herbs have modest but real evidence. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) catechins — particularly EGCG — have been shown to modestly increase metabolic rate and fat oxidation. Berberine (from barberry, goldenseal) significantly improves insulin sensitivity and has been compared to metformin for blood sugar management in some studies — important for metabolically driven weight gain. Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) reduces sugar cravings and may support blood sugar balance.
Green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, have been shown in multiple studies to modestly increase thermogenesis (heat production and calorie burning) — by approximately 4% in some studies. This is a real but small effect, most relevant as one component of a broader approach rather than a standalone treatment. The caffeine in green tea has an additive thermogenic effect.
Gymnema sylvestre suppresses sweet taste sensation on the tongue and reduces sugar cravings. Fibre-rich herbs like psyllium taken before meals create a sense of fullness. Glucomannan (from konjac root) has the strongest evidence for appetite reduction among natural products. Ginger can reduce appetite and improve satiety signalling in some individuals.
Emerging research shows that gut microbiome composition influences metabolic rate, fat storage, and inflammatory processes associated with obesity. While this is not yet fully translated into clinical recommendations, supporting gut health through a diverse plant-based diet, adequate fibre, and gut-healing herbs remains a sensible part of any metabolic health strategy.
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which promotes visceral fat storage, increases appetite (particularly for high-sugar, high-fat foods), disrupts sleep, and impairs insulin sensitivity. Adaptogenic herbs that reduce cortisol — ashwagandha, rhodiola — therefore have a genuine role in supporting weight management for people where stress is a significant driver.
Yes — hypothyroidism slows metabolic rate significantly, and unexplained weight gain should always prompt thyroid testing. Herbal support for thyroid function (iodine-containing herbs like bladderwrack for iodine-deficient hypothyroidism; adaptogenic herbs for stress-related thyroid suppression) can complement medical management but should not replace it. Always get thyroid function tested before assuming this is the cause.
A whole-food, plant-rich diet that minimises refined carbohydrates, ultra-processed foods, and added sugars creates the metabolic environment in which herbal support is most effective. No herb compensates for a diet that consistently drives insulin dysregulation and inflammatory pathways.
Understanding metabolism, hormonal balance, and the role of herbs in metabolic health requires a thorough grounding in physiology — exactly what our course provides. View lesson packages and enrol today.