Herbal medicine frames the human body as a complex yet interconnected whole, with disease and illness understood as the result of imbalances among bodily functions. Obesity, for instance, is not seen simply as a consequence of dietary and lifestyle habits, but rather as a form of systemic disequilibrium. This article explores herbal treatments for obesity from five traditional medical systems: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Traditional Palestinian Medicine, Integrative Korean Medicine (IKM), Ayurveda, and Traditional Kampo Medicine. To contextualize their botanical formulas and treatment approaches, this discussion first examines the historical foundations and medicinal principles of each system.
Archaeological evidence, such as acupuncture needles and traces of herbal treatments, suggests that TCM dates back 4,000-8,000 years. Classical texts such as the Yijing and the Huangdi Neijing discuss core philosophical and medicinal theories of TCM, such as Yin-Yang and the Five Phases. TCM is centered on the belief that qi, the body’s vital energy, flows along meridians to maintain spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance. Health interventions therefore, aim to restore harmony between opposing forces, Yin and Yang. Within this framework, obesity is understood not simply as overeating, but as a complex constitutional imbalance. Treatments focus on harmonizing internal organ function, improving metabolism, and regulating qi, blood, and body fluids.
Traditional Palestinian herbal medicine developed through centuries of migration, cultural exchange, and experimentation with native flora. Early physicians documented medicinal plants and substantiated the evolving body of knowledge established through trial and error. Traditional Arab medicine was also influenced by the Sunnah, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, which integrate spirituality with herbal healing. This philosophy underscores holistic care and the belief that nature provides balanced remedies for the body.
IKM combines herbal medicine and traditional therapies with contemporary Western biomedical diagnostics. Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) is rooted in the diverse use of native plants like wormwood and garlic, alongside spiritual rituals. While influenced by Chinese medicine and Buddhist medical knowledge, TKM has evolved independently through texts such as Hyangyak Gugeupband, which emphasized local flora and emergency medicine. IKM observes a whole-person-centered approach, classifying patients into four body constitutions: Taeyangin, Soyangin, Taeeumin, and Soeuin. These classifications support patient-centric treatment plans that combine acupuncture and herbal medicine with Western diagnostic technologies such as MRI, X-rays, and blood panels.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine, traced to early schools of Hindu philosophical teachings, Vaishesika, and logic, Nyaya, from the second century B.C.E. Ayurveda understands health using three basic elemental humors, or doshas: Vata (circulation and digestion), Pitta (digestion and metabolism regulation), and Kapha (moisture and heaviness). In Ayurveda, obesity corresponds to imbalances among these forces, often associated with metabolic conditions such as Sthaulya or Medoroga, poor diet, sedentary behavior, and impaired digestive fire, the accumulation of toxins and fat deposits in the digestive system. Ayurvedic herbal remedies, traditionally described in poems called Shlokas, are intended to restore balance and improve metabolic function.
Traditional Kampo medicine developed in Japan during the Edo period around 1600 A.D. Kampo medicine is defined by herbal formulas derived from plants, animals and minerals. Although rooted in Chinese tradition and East Asian natural philosophy, Kampo evolved independently due to Japan’s geographic and political seclusion. Kampo emphasizes symptom-based diagnosis while focusing on correcting systemic imbalance rather than suppressing symptoms. This holistic foundation supports therapeutic approaches aimed at correcting overall imbalances.
All five traditional systems of medicine share intertwined cultural, spiritual, and philosophical foundations. Many of their herbal healing formulas also overlap in purpose, particularly in the treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity.
Obesity is a chronic disease affecting around 135 million individuals worldwide. Increasing rates of obesity reflect lifestyle transitions, including sedentary habits, processed foods, and economic shifts that prioritize convenience over nutritional value. Although obesity is a physical condition, it is often accompanied by social and psychological consequences such as stigma, decreased productivity, and financial strain due to health-associated consequences. While pharmaceutical treatments provide an alternative to caloric deficits and excessive exercise, they pose their own set of adverse consequences. Instead, traditional herbal methods offer potential complementary and autonomous treatment options through formulas designed to moderate metabolic conditions. The following research examines five herbal treatment approaches for obesity from these five distinct traditional medical systems.
The first study introduces five TCM herbal formulas that show promising effects in obesity management, including support for weight loss, lipid metabolism, modulation of the gut microbiota , and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The first formula, lotus leaf charcoal, is composed of carbonized lotus leaves, which are believed to improve digestion, promote urination, and lift Yang to stop diarrhea. Carbonization also enhances the leaves’ astringent and absorptive properties, aiding gastrointestinal metabolism and fat excretion. The second formula, Qing Shen San, combines herbs to improve spleen and stomach function, eliminate dampness and phlegm, replenish qi and blood, and regulate metabolism. The third formula, Da Chai Hu Tang, is traditionally used to soothe the liver, relieve stagnation, reduce internal heat, and improve bowel function. Research suggests it may also reduce hepatic fat accumulation and inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiota. The fourth formula, seaweed slimming decoction, serves to soften masses, resolve phlegm, promote urination, and reduce swelling. Lastly, the Qing Dynasty Imperial Slimming Tea blend supports digestion and gastrointestinal function, regulates qi, and boosts metabolism. These formulas all show promising effects for obesity management and pharmaceutical supplementation. Researchers also identified five recurring herbs across the formulas, including lotus leaf, poria, hawthorn, astragalus, and alisma.
The second study assessed the biological activity and toxicity of two traditional Palestinian herbal blends used for anti-obesity purposes. The first herbal blend included tea, ginger, cumin, stinking chamomile, cinnamon, and natural apple cider vinegar, while the second included cinnamon, turmeric, garlic, and black pepper. Researchers evaluated the blends for antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and cytotoxic properties. Both blends demonstrated potent anti-fibrotic, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer activities, although the second herbal blend produced significantly more potent effects. The blends also showed moderate activity against digestive enzymes α-amylase and lipase, suggesting limited anti-obesity effects. The authors cautioned individuals to use these herbal blends under professional supervision due to the possible cytotoxic effects of some anti-cancer herbs.
The third article presented an observational study examining the efficacy and safety of IKM treatments for weight loss. Treatments combined herbal medicine with lifestyle modification and therapies such as pharmacopuncture, thread embedding acupuncture, and detoxification therapy. Researchers reviewed 3,161 patients with obesity (BMI> 30 kg/m²). Among these patients, 2,146 experienced at least 5% weight loss. Researchers further analyzed 24 “best case” patients who reduced their BMI to below 23 kg/m² to evaluate ongoing weight-loss maintenance. All patients received the herbal decoction Daeat-tang, while 83.33% also received a personalized formula, commonly including Fangji Huangqi-tang, Daeat-tang, and Wuling Zhengqi-san. The researchers concluded that these treatments were successful and safe strategies for obesity management, particularly for individuals who struggled with conventional nondrug treatments. Despite these positive outcomes, the study lacked a placebo control group and relied heavily on a “best-case-scenario” model of success. The study also struggled to isolate the effects of herbal treatments from those of the lifestyle modifications.
The fourth study evaluated the safety and efficacy of two different Ayurvedic herbal blends, Vidanga Churna (VDC) and Vyoshadi Guggulu (VSG), using a prospective, open-label, multicenter clinical design. This study included 100 obese patients, 86 of whom completed the 12-week trial. Participants were administered the VSG formula three times daily and the VDC formula twice daily. VDC has been associated with reductions in serum lipase activity, cholesterol, and triglycerides, suggesting potential benefits in preventing lipid abnormalities, insulin resistance, and obesity. Similarly, VSG contains ingredients that target digestion, metabolism, and anti-inflammatory activity. Researchers observed significant reductions in waist circumference and a slight decrease in BMI, alongside improvements in sleep quality, bowel habits, pulse consistency, physical health parameters, and urine output. The findings suggest that these Ayurvedic formulas may enhance metabolism and systemic balance without caloric restriction or high-intensity exercise, producing a safe, effective, and viable complementary treatment option for obesity.
The fifth study reviewed the literature on the role of gut microbiota in the pharmacological effects of Kampo herbal medicine formulas, particularly Bofutsushosan (BTS), Daiokanzoto, Daikenchuto, and Hangeshashinto. Among these, BTS demonstrated the most notable anti-obesity potential, attributed in part to its ability to increase energy expenditure by activating uncoupling protein 1 in white adipose tissue while limiting intestinal lipid absorption. Its effects were also associated with modulation of the gut microbiota. Additionally, BTS may promote the proliferation of Akkermansia Muciniphila, a beneficial bacterium that resides in the human intestinal lining and is associated with improved metabolic health and reduced obesity. Together, these findings highlight the growing importance of modulating the gut microbiota in understanding the therapeutic efficacy of Kampo herbal medicine for obesity.
