There are two comments bound to make any credible herbalist cringe.
One is "It can't hurt me, it's all natural," and the other is "herbs
don't have any side effects or interactions." Both are wrong. They can
hurt you and they do have side effects and interactions.
Dangerous Herbs:
Two good examples in this category are Ephedra and Blue Cohosh. Ephedra
has often been used in weight loss products. It was once banned but
seems to now be in some sort of grey area. The problem is that it could
kill you. The substance in it is chemically similar to epinephrine, and
it could cause a heart attack, amongst other things.
Blue cohosh
is sometimes recommended to speed childbirth. The good news is that it
can do just that. The bad news is that both mother and child could die
before the baby is even born. Infants have been born having heart
attacks because their mother took blue cohosh.
Cautionary Herbs:
Some herbs may be effective, but the number of side effects,
interactions or preparation methods makes herbalists nervous unless
properly prepared. Cherry bark is great for stopping a cough, but it
isn't something for those who don't know how to prepare it to work with.
The principle that helps stop the cough is cyanide, and too much of
that will kill you.
Licorice
is another good example. The problem here are the side effects and
interactions. The root is high in sugar, so it could cause problems in
diabetics. It raises blood pressure, so it could cause problems for
those with high blood pressure or heart disease. In fact, it can cause
heart rhythm problems in healthy people.
GRAS:
This acronym stands for "generally recognized as safe." While these
herbs do have side effects and interactions, most people can take them
safely. Chamomile, garlic, lemon balm and so forth are all on this list.
There are three ways herbs can have a major effect on your body.
Knowing the herb and what these terms mean may help you make the right
decision.
Interaction: This problem happens when two
things are combined that react to each other. If you've ever done the
"volcano" experiment, you've seen one outside your body. If you mix
vinegar and baking soda, it will foam up. Some herbs do that inside the
body, both with other herbs and with medications. While this is all
right on occasion, most of the time interactions are not considered good
things.
Side Effects: The main action of chamomile is to
help calm a person down. One of the side effects is it makes that
person sleepy. Another is that it could cause uterine contractions.
These side effects can be a problem if you're driving somewhere or
you're pregnant. That's what a side effect is; something other than the
main reason you're taking the supplement.
Medical Conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease
and immune function diseases can all react negatively to certain herbs.
I've already mentioned licorice, which covers the first two. When it
comes to the immune system, another popular herb is a problem. It is not
advised to take Echinacea if you have any problem that affects that
system.
Choosing the right supplement is not like picking out a
new pair of shoes. Talk to your doctor, your pharmacist and if possible a
qualified herbal practitioner. We may be able to help you find a
supplement that is right for you and doesn't do you more harm than good.
Herbalife Side Effects
Some
people experience unpleasant side effects when using various Herbalife
products. These are described and addressed in this article for your
safety and well-being.
Bloating:
If you
experience bloating, try changing the portion size to reduce this
feeling. Enjoy healthy snacks during the day and smaller meals to assist
your digestion. If you are using the shake mix as a meal replacement
you may want to reduce the portion size or frequency.
Dry Mouth:
Some
people report that their mouth is dry after black or fruit tea. Detox
products often produce thirst so you can try increasing your intake of
water. Dryness from using the shakes can be caused by acid reflux since
it contains guar gum and psyllium husk. These have expanding properties,
which can cause reflux. Guar bean is high in protein and oil and guar
gum is used worldwide in many beverages, foods and supplements. In
significant quantities, guar gum dehydrates the body and can cause some
serious side effects. However, it is regulated by the FDA who only
permits extremely small quantities of it in food. Guar gum in the shake
mix is used to emulsify or bind the particles and has been determined to
be of insignificant quantities.
Heart Palpitations:
Palpitations
may be from caffeine sensitivity. The tea does have caffeine in it so
you could either stop using the tea or eventually you will get used to
caffeine and the palpations should recede. The shake mix does not
contain any caffeine.
In the nineties it was found that Ephedra
caused increased heart rate and Herbalife discontinued using Ephedra in
any of its products.
Upset Stomach, Headache and Fevers:
In
the first few days, many years of accumulated toxins and waste in the
body begin to be expelled. Diarrhea, headaches, fever or nausea can
arise.
These are temporary symptoms and will subside whether you
continue the diet or not. The discomfort is not very common but happens
to some people. Once you are detoxified you should feel great however.
The body has toxins or free radicals surrounded by fat molecules, and
when burning these fat molecules, the toxins are released into the
bloodstream for elimination. They circulate through the body and are
filtered out by the kidneys and liver. This can take up to 2 weeks.
Areas where toxins and pollutants are expelled from the body can display
reactions. You can first use a detoxification program to cleanse your
system before starting the weight loss program if you wish.
Unpleasant-Smelling Urine or Perspiration:
This
is another possible reaction to the body cleansing that is not caused
by the products, but the waste you are cleaning out. The products are
working just as they should.
Allergic Reaction and Blocked Sinuses:
People
who are very allergic to fish need to know that some Herbalife products
contain fish oil. See a medical specialist to determine if this is an
allergic reaction. Sinuses are especially sensitive because they are
soft tissue. Sinus irritations should clear in 1 to 3 weeks but if they
get worse, discontinue using the product and consult a medical
professional.
Malnutrition:
Beware
of nutrient deficiency when losing weight. The Herbalife ShapeWorks
program recommends that along with the 2 shakes and one healthy meal,
you should add the Multivitamins and Cell Activator to ensure that you
are getting enough nutrition. Cell Activator helps increase your
nutrient absorption from food.
Stimulants:
Caffeine
in green tea is not the same as in coffee. It is slower-acting and has a
calmer quality. But if you feel too stimulated try half a cup instead
of a whole cup for a while.
Swollen Legs:
This
might indicate an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the Herbalife
products. Please show your doctor the product labels and ask his advice.
It would be best to discontinue using the product until you know what
the cause of your swelling is.
Stomach Acidity:
If you
are using Cell-U-Loss, try discontinuing it and see if that reduces your
symptoms. If so, then Cell-U-Loss is not for you. If acidity persists
when you are not taking it, there is some other cause. Cell-U-Loss
contains 3 ingredients which may be causing the acidity: Apple Cider
Vinegar, Vitamin C and Iron. It also contains herbs that have diuretic
properties such as couch grass and corn silk extract.
Pregnancy:
Total
Control (the metabolism booster) carries a warning to not be used by the
pregnant, lactating (or those that want to get pregnant). Rapid weight
loss and stimulants during breastfeeding can release too many toxins
into your blood stream and thus into your milk. This can cause a
decrease in your milk supply and be unhealthy for your baby. Avoid the
stimulants in Total Control and the Herbal Tea, which contain caffeine.
Herbalife products have nutrition labels that show warnings to guide
women who are pregnant, nursing or who may become pregnant.
Rashes:
These
are the most commonly reported side-effects that happen when the body
is de-toxifying. Redness, blotchy skin and irritation can arise. Your
skin being the largest organ, has the most cells to repair and also
discharges toxins. It takes about 2 weeks to cleanse the blood stream
and during this time the departing toxins can be irritating. Exercise
produces sweat and will release toxins that can irritate the skin.
Herbal Aloe Soothing Gel can provide symptomatic relief.
Hair Loss or Breakage:
Formula
1 Nutritional Shake Mix has been shown to improve skin, hair and nail
growth. If you experience hair loss early in your weight loss program,
this is because damaged cells are being repaired or replaced. When
beginning a weight loss program, your body will target the most damaged
cells. Hair usually has the oldest cells and is thus the first target
for renewal. Hair soon becomes healthier than before so you need not
worry about this.
General Detoxing Effects:
It is
very well known that at the beginning of a diet or fast there may be
some adverse side effects. These usually subside within a few weeks
however. If you detoxify for a few days using plain water, fruit or
vegetables you will also experience some side effects. When we have
better nutrition, or when toxic substances such as coffee, tea,
chocolate, tobacco, salt, and pepper are discontinued, amazing changes
take place. Our bodies discard the lower grade materials and tissues to
make room for newer, healthier ones.
Weight Gain:
An
ideal weight-loss rate is between 3 and 5 pounds per week. If you lose
weight gradually and are getting proper nutrition, it will stay off.
Moderate exercise like walking is necessary to get the fat burning
process going. Adequate hydration (drinking water regularly) is
essential to flush the toxins.
Do not try to stop any Herbalife side
effects by taking drugs. Either let the healing take its natural course
or stop using the product if you experience an allergic reaction.
