TRADITIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE – DISEASES & FORMULAS
Obesity
“Live on Sixpence a day,
and earn it“
Obesity and being overweight are most often associated with the body consuming more calories than is burned. In these cases, reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise benefit in the long term. However, a large percentage of people who are overweight are primarily holding on to fluid. They are puffy, with swollen ankles and swollen fingers. These types are often fed as much by what they drink as what they eat. Avoiding excess fluid, avoiding cold drinks and tending towards drinks with a mild diuretic effect
Of course there are people with Obesity who have metabolic disorders. The majority of these cases fall into a Yang Deficiency (lack of Innate Heat), or Cold-type disorder. This is often associated with underactive Thyroid, and in these cases Warming medicines that strengthen Yang work well.
In Humoral medicine, this is generally a Phlegm-Damp condition, and medicines which warm and clear Damp or clear Damp, increase digestion and promote Urine are generally prescribed. Phlegm purgatives may also be indicated. In addition, a weakening of the Digestive Fire (Agni, or Spleen Yang) is also associated. Therefore warming medicines that stimulate digestion are likewise indicated.
Lekhaniya
Ayurveda has the group of medicines called Lekhaniya, used to thin the tissues and reduce Fat:
Cyperus rotundus, Apoitaxis auriculata, Tumeric, Berberis asiatica, Calamus, Aconitum heterophyllum, Picrorhiza, Plumbago zeylanica root, Pongamia glabra, Calamus (white variety)
Western Tradition
Simples
Ginger
Fennel seed
Calamus
Celery root
Cyperus rotundus
Pepper
Garlic
Turmeric
Parsley root
Lacca
Simple Recipes:
1. Take a clove of Garlic every morning
2. Fennel seed tea
3. Warm Vinegar (4 oz.) taken every morning with Black Pepper, fasting afterwards.
4. Wine of Sour Pomegranates
5. Taken distilled water of Savin morning and night.
Syrup of Two Opening Roots
Powder Against Obesity
Powder for Obesity of Dr. Goedelsteyn
Powder of the Countess of Castel
Powder to Make Thin (Safoof Mohazzil) (Unani)
TCM Classification
Simples
Ginger
Atractylodes Bai Zhu
Pinellia Ban Xia
Citrus Chen Pi
Mulberry twig
Rhubarb
Cinnamon
Cyperus rotundus
Poria Fu Ling
Immature Orange peel
Laminaria
Ephedra
Clear Food Stagnation
Clear Phlegm-Damp
Special Formulas:
1. Ginger, Black Pepper, Fennel seed, Cyperus rotundus
2. Embelia, Cyperus rotundus, Plumbago (this is called Trimad and has proven efficacy)
3. Lacca, Cyperus rotundus, Black Pepper
4. Sandarac (Cypress gum) and Polypody taken with Oxymel.
5. Distilled Water of Polypody taken with Sandarac.
6. Senna, Fennel seed, Cumin seed, Coriander seed, Cinnamon, Ginger
7. Shilajit, Bdellium (Guggulu), Garlic. This is available as an OTC patent medicine for hypercholesterolemia and obesity.
8. Epdedra, Rhubarb, Laminaria (this has been studied)
9. Atyractylodes Bai Zhu, Amomum villosum
