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HealthShop presents

Carl Hangee-Bauer, N.D.
Naturopathic Medicine

March 23, 2000

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Kata: Can you recommmend any herbs or natural remedies to help me lose weight.

Dr. Carl: Kata, I get this question a lot, and there's no easy answer. Most of the herbs I'm aware of help people lose weight by either stimulating their metabolism, acting as a laxative, or as a diuretic. For example, ephedra is found in many weight loss products, and has been shown to cause harm in some people when used inappropriately. I tend to avoid most herbs when I'm helping people lose weight. Though I have used some Chinese herb combinations which I think are safe. The best thing I've found for helping people lose weight is to identify if there's any metabolic problems, such as low thyroid function, and correct this if it's there. I also help people eat a healthier diet and maintain adequate activity levels. In the long run, proper diet, proper activity levels, and correction of metabolic problems is what helps people lose fat, and lose weight, and become healthier. There's no easy answer! It takes lifestyle changes to do it right.

Koalahere2: Is there a natural remedy for treating mouth ulcers?

Dr. Carl: There are a few things that I've found work. One is, if you get frequent mouth ulcerations, see if you are using toothpaste containing cinnamon, or ingesting a lot of cinnamon. Cinnamon has been shown to cause mouth ulcerations in some people. Also, I've had good success by having people first do a mouthwash with a goldenseal tea, followed by doing a mouthwash with a live-culture yogurt and water. Finally, I've seen some people improve by chewing DGL, which is a form of licorice.

Sternchen: How do I get an education in acupuncture or traditional Oriental medicine?

Dr. Carl: There are many acupuncture schools in the United States, and that's the place I would go. It depends on where you are as to how near one is to you. I know there are around fifteen schools in California, which has a very inclusive acupuncture license program.

Starlite: Where can I find pictures of the acupoints and their meridians?

Dr. Carl: There are a number of acupuncture books and charts available. A good introductory book to acupuncture is called "Between Heaven and Earth" by Harriet Beinfield. That's a good place to start.

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