The use of herbs once belonged partly to the realm of magic, in the healing rites performed by shamans and also stems from observations of the way in which animals treat themselves to various plants when sick or wounded. But careful study of herbs and their properties over thousands of years has developed Oriental herbal medicine into a highly refined and complex discipline.

Medical diagnosis is usually undertaken by practitioners familiar with both Western and Oriental medicine, resulting in a wide­ranging and comprehensive assessment of a patient’s symptoms. The yin/yang balance will be appraised, as well as the functioning of the internal organs and systems, the patient’s psychological state, diet, and lifestyle. And each of these factors will be considered in relation to the nature of the diseases or disorder involved, and its degree and speed of progression.

Following diagnosis, the therapist selects a combination of natural “herbs,” which may include mineral and animal ingredients. Western herbal therapies are often based on using a single herbal remedy at a time; indeed, most rural forms of folk medicine work on this premise. An Oriental herbal therapist will provide an individually tailored cocktail of herbs that will work in conjunction with one another, and with you, and that will probably be readapted several times during the course of treatment as healing proceeds,

Herbs are classified in a number of ways. The nature of each is said to be cold, cool, hot, warm, or neutral. This is the chi or energy value of the herb and is used to balance excess or deficiencies in the “disharmony” that constitutes the illness. The herb’s taste and smell are also evaluated, as sour bitter, sweet, pungent. salty. These characteristics are linked special affinities with different organs or body system and the related emotions that can be involved in disease. The herbs are also characterized as having a ascending or descending effect. The herbalist prescribes a mixture of herbs and tells the patient how to prepare and use them. Occasionally ready-prepared remedies such as herbal pills or tinctures may be given.

Chinese herbs can be found in a variety of places including medical offices following the Eastern practice of medicine, Asian markets, and even online. But the use of Chinese herbs, while most often safe, should be used under the guidance of a medical professional and after extensive research has been performed. If there is an interest in using Chinese herbs to help supplement health or treat an existing condition, it is best to research those herbs that have shown success in these particular instances. Seek out a medical professional or someone well-versed in the use of Chinese herbs to determine the best way to proceed. When Chinese herbs are used in conjunction with education, preparedness, and medical supervision, they can be a fantastic tool to achieving overall, natural health.

One of the most popular herbal remedies is echinacea, which sells like crazy during flu season. Another herbal medicine gingko biloba is said to naturally help the memory of elderly people. Other everyday herbs like ginger (reduces nausea), mint (aids digestion) or chamomile (helps sleep) are commonly used. Yoga has long been touted as the “toning, weight loss secret of the stars.”Now women are using it to stave off baby weight gain and balance emotions during pregnancy. More business men are running down to get Chinese massages on their lunch breaks to find their center too. If for no other reason, Chinese alternative medicine is catching on in America because it simply feels good.

Many modern traditional Chinese skincare products now have green tea as an active ingredient to them. There are creams, lotions and beauty preparations that are known to have green tea extracts in them. These skin care and beauty products also have antioxidants and vitamins E, C and A added to serve as natural preservatives. What is more? These natural products are said to be more effective because the good effects of green tea are matched by the natural good effects of the other nutrients. Currently, there are many manufacturers that are focusing on green tea because the natural herbal beverage has been found to have better and more effective skincare benefits.

Diet pills are available at the local drugstore, supermarket or health food store and many can be purchased online. But are these products safe and effective? Your friend, neighbor or favorite celebrity will probably tell you they are, after all they’re using the product themselves.

However, bear in mind that these products are sold as supplements not drugs. As such, manufacturers don’t have to prove anything or pass government standards of safety and efficacy. This means they are free to make extravagant claims often at the expense of the consumer.

“Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs or medications sold over-the-counter. Thus, they can be marketed with limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Vendors can make health claims about products based on their own review and interpretation of studies without the authorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the FDA can pull a product off the market if it’s proved dangerous,” according to the MayoClinic.com.

Sadly, when a product is pulled off the shelves, it is often too late. Take the case of Singaporean actress Andrea de Cruz whose story was reported in Time magazine:

“By a mother’s standards, Andrea De Cruz didn’t need to lose weight. But show business imposes strict requirements on appearance, and when the dial on the Singaporean TV actress’s bathroom scales spun to more than 48 kilos, De Cruz started taking a Chinese diet pill named Slim 10 that she purchased from a colleague. Two months later, De Cruz, 28, was near death, unconscious in a hospital in Singapore,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen in her story “Asia’s Killer Diet Pills.”

To survive, De Cruz underwent an emergency liver transplant. Today, she is still living although she needs immunosuppressants that leave her weak and vulnerable to other illnesses. But not everyone who takes over-the-counter diet pills are as “lucky.”

“Nobody knows how many are buying untested products of dubious efficacy – certainly consumers number in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. At their most harmless, the products are a waste of time, money and good intentions. Some, however, are proving to be deadly. Over the past two years, seven women in Japan, Singapore and China have died due to the toxicity of the substances they ingested in the hope of shedding offending kilograms. From differing ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds and ranging in age from 16 to 60, the women had one thing in common: like De Cruz, they were all taking Chinese-made diet pills containing a variant of fenfluramine, an appetite suppressant that has been banned in the U.S. since 1997 for damaging heart valves. Doctors and health officials in Asia now believe the newer compound, called N-nitroso fenfluramine, can cause liver failure,” Cullen added.

There are no shortcuts to losing weight. To achieve your desired goal, you have to exercise, eat smaller portions, and plan your meals carefully to include healthy food choices that have fewer calories. If you’re tempted to try diet pills, read the labels carefully. One safe brand that will help you lose weight without side effects is Zylorin – a product that speeds up your metabolism, curbs your appetite, helps control sugar levels, and gives you the energy you need to do what you want