Which herbal remedy should you use for weight loss ?

Phytotherapy is a therapeutic approach based on the use of plant extracts (leaves, flowers, roots, bark, etc.) and their active ingredients to address certain conditions, alleviate specific ailments, and/or support a specific bodily system, such as digestion, blood circulation, or the body’s elimination functions.

It is considered a holistic approach to health, as it takes into account not only physical symptoms but also emotional ones, which includes inner health and well-being.

These plants can be taken in various forms, such as infusions, teas, ointments, essential oils, and even as dietary supplements.

Herbal medicine can potentially aid weight loss by utilising certain medicinal plants that possess beneficial properties for weight management and metabolism. Here are a few ways herbal medicine can contribute to weight loss:

These effects can take several forms:

• Appetite suppressant: These plants help create a feeling of fullness, thereby contributing to a reduction in the amount of food consumed.

• Fat-binding: These plants bind fats and sugars to slow their absorption and promote their elimination.

• Diuretic: These plants promote the urinary elimination of water and waste, thereby preventing water retention.

• Toxin elimination: Certain herbal remedies are known for their ability to support liver detoxification and promote the elimination of toxins, which can aid weight loss by improving metabolic function.

• Metabolism stimulation: These plants help increase basal metabolism, which is the amount of energy the body needs for normal functioning. The higher the metabolism, the more calories the body burns at rest, which promotes weight loss.

However, it is important to note that herbal medicine alone does not guarantee significant and sustainable weight loss. A balanced diet, regular physical activity, and other healthy lifestyle habits are also essential for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Before starting any weight-loss program involving herbal supplements, it is also recommended to consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice and to avoid potential side effects.

Several plants are often recommended to aid weight loss during a diet. Here are a few examples of plants traditionally used in herbal medicine to support weight loss:

Plants with appetite-suppressing and fat-binding effects

These plants are particularly high in fibre, which helps absorb water as well as fats and sugars, thereby reducing body fat.

• Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica): Nopal is rich in soluble fibre, particularly pectin and mucilage. These form a gel in the stomach, which increases the feeling of fullness by increasing the volume in the stomach. These fibres also help capture lipids to prevent their absorption by the intestines and the body’s storage of fat in fat cells. They also help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.

Bonus tip: To enjoy all the benefits of this plant, try our dietary supplement Organic Fat Binder. This product is made from Nopal powder in capsule form, convenient to take after meals and easy to carry.

Spotlight on the Organic Fat Blocker - 90 capsules - Dietary supplement

Ideal for helping to control weight, the natural dietary supplement Organic Fat Blocker is made from a selected and patented organic Nopal powder with proven effectiveness. Known for its high fibre content and its effects on the absorption of fats and sugars, Nopal can also act as an appetite suppressant and help reduce calorie intake. A true natural ally for weight management—a helping hand worth adding! Available in capsule form, this weight-loss dietary supplement is convenient to take after meals.

• Blond psyllium or ispaghul seeds (Plantago ovata): Like nopal, they are very rich in fibre and mucilage. Their effect is therefore essentially the same: increased satiety and improved elimination of fats and sugars. Psyllium is known to regulate bowel movements, either by promoting them or by slowing them down. It therefore has beneficial effects in cases of both constipation and diarrhoea, although this may seem paradoxical. For constipation: the soluble fibre it contains absorbs water, forming a viscous gel that increases stool volume and softens them, thereby stimulating intestinal peristalsis—the contractions that facilitate their elimination. For diarrhea: these same soluble fibers can absorb excess water in the colon during episodes of diarrhea. This helps make stools more solid, reduces the urge to go, and thus alleviates diarrhea.

Bonus tip: Psyllium seeds can be consumed mixed into fruit juices or smoothies, or sprinkled over compote, yoghurt or cottage cheese. You can also incorporate them into baked goods to increase their satiating effect.

• Konjac (Amorphophallus konjac): Konjac is a plant rich in glucomannan, a mucilage-type fibre known for its exceptional absorptive capacity: it can absorb up to 100 times its weight in water thanks to its exceptionally high fibre content—over 60%. This makes konjac one of the plants with the highest fibre content, giving it powerful appetite-suppressing and blood-sugar-lowering effects, as well as positive effects on fat absorption and elimination.

Bonus: There are various Konjac-based food products, such as pasta or vermicelli, making it easy to incorporate into your diet since it has a neutral taste. However, you can also opt for a dietary supplement.

Plants with diuretic effects

Certain plants contain active ingredients that promote the elimination of water through the kidneys; they are said to have diuretic effects.

Here are a few examples:

• Dandelion (Taraxacum): In addition to its diuretic properties, which promote the elimination of water and waste through the kidneys, it also helps boost metabolism, leading to increased calorie burning.

• Birch (Betula): It promotes the elimination of water and toxins. But it also has remineralising properties, which is particularly beneficial in cases of fatigue or inflammatory conditions leading to demineralization.

• Orthosiphon (Orthosiphon aristatus): It increases urine volume, promoting the elimination of water and waste. Its diuretic properties make it a valuable ally in weight-loss diets.

• Pilosella: (Pilosella officinarum): It promotes diuresis, that is, urine production. Its main advantage is that it acts gently, without causing the mineral loss sometimes associated with the diuretic properties of certain plants.

Of course, certain herbal teas and teas (green tea, meadowsweet tea, matcha tea, etc.) are known for their diuretic properties, meaning they can help increase urine production and promote the elimination of toxins and excess fluids from the body.

Spotlight on Organic Slimming Mate Tea

Deliciously tangy, the Organic Slimming Mate herbal tea will charm you with its beautiful pink hue and its fruity, invigorating taste. It combines mate leaves—known for their stimulating and draining effects—with a blend of organic plants selected for their detoxifying benefits and pleasant taste: hibiscus flowers, blackcurrant leaves, chicory root, and pineapple. With no added flavourings, this Slimming herbal tea, made in France, can be enjoyed hot or cold to support you in your fitness routine. Combining pleasure, beauty, and balance!

It is recommended to consume these herbal teas and teas in moderation and to drink enough water to maintain proper hydration and avoid frequent feelings of bloating. However, they are highly recommended in weight-loss diets and provide significant support.

Plants that boost metabolism

These are generally plants rich in caffeine, which are unique in that they affect the basal metabolic rate by promoting fat burning. Here are the main plants with a significant caffeine content:

Green Tea (Camellia sinensis): Known for its high antioxidant content, green tea is also a powerful ally for promoting weight loss, thanks to the high caffeine content in its leaves. It is delicious as an infusion or blended into smoothies, which you can prepare using our Matcha Green Tea powder. It’s worth noting that Matcha is one of the green teas richest in antioxidants.

Guarana (Paullinia cupana): Guarana contains twice as much caffeine as coffee.  It is therefore an excellent ally for increasing calorie consumption and fat burning, even at rest. Our Guarana Powder blends perfectly into your drinks and protein bar recipes, allowing you to benefit from its slimming and energizing effects—ideal for avoiding the occasional slumps in energy that can sometimes accompany diets.

Mate (Ilex Paraguariensis): Mate not only affects metabolism and has energizing properties, but it also has diuretic properties and is rich in antioxidants. To enjoy all its benefits, try our Slimming Mate Tea, with its delicious fruity and invigorating flavour.

There is no single plant with miracle effects, but the various plants we have just presented can provide complementary benefits to promote weight loss. As we have just seen, certain plants will help us regulate our appetite, allowing us to eat less while still feeling sufficiently full. 

Others help eliminate water and toxins that can hinder weight loss. Still others boost our metabolism and promote a natural fat-burning effect. The combination of these various effects creates a synergy of actions that all work toward the same goal: supporting us in our weight-loss journey.

It is not recommended to take all these plants at the same time, but rather to alternate three-week courses, observing breaks of at least one week between two courses of herbal products.

Herbs should not be consumed for several days in a row over the long term, and they will be most effective when used as part of a balanced diet.

To enhance their effects, you can also use hydrosols—waters containing small amounts of active molecules derived from the distillation of plants during the extraction of essential oils. Hydrosols have the same properties as essential oils, but they are much less potent and offer a gentle action suitable for everyone.

Rosemary Hydrosol (Salvia rosmarinus)

Rosemary is a plant beneficial for the liver; it gently stimulates its activity. It also acts on the intestines, promoting the elimination of waste.

Discover our Rosemary Hydrosol

Juniper Hydrosol (Juniperus communis)

It also has a beneficial effect on the liver and kidneys, thereby stimulating several of the body’s elimination functions simultaneously. To complement the effects of these plants and refine your silhouette, we recommend applying our slimming gel Emul’gel for Contouring & Silhouette Care, which offers smoothing and firming effects.

Discover our Juniper Hydrosol

Konjac (Amorphophallus konjac) is one of the plants richest in soluble fibre, containing over 60% glucomannan. This fibre absorbs up to 100 times its weight in water, forming a viscous gel that slows gastric emptying and reduces appetite. A meta-analysis (Onakpoya et al., J Obes, 2014) shows a significant average weight loss of 1.44 kg over 5 weeks compared to placebo. Take 30 minutes before meals with a large glass of water.

Source: Onakpoya I. et al., J Obes, 2014; 2014: 970464. [PMID: 25214882]

The use of herbal remedies requires certain precautions: risks of allergies to active ingredients, interactions with current treatments, contraindications...

It is strongly discouraged for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and people with certain medical conditions.

We recommend consulting a wellness and herbal medicine professional, such as a naturopath, who can advise you so that you can benefit from all the properties of plants without adverse effects.

Find more tips on herbal medicine and weight loss in our articles:

• Slimming Herbal Teas: Benefits, Usage, and Tips

• Top Slimming Teas to Help You Lose a Few Extra Pounds

• Ashwagandha and Weight Loss: Everything You Need to Know

After completing a master’s degree in management, Christine spent 20 years working for leading companies in the food supplement and natural cosmetics sectors. She then turned her passion for nature into a career. Today she practises naturopathy for people and animals, as well as sophrology, and mentors aspiring naturopaths and sophrologists at various schools.