The Dangers of Herbal Diet Teas & How to Use Them Safely

The Dangers of Herbal Diet Teas & How to Use Them Safely
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What is Dieter’s Tea?

Dieter’s tea is an herbal tea blend designed to help people lose weight. Many brands and proprietary blends are available, though they all work the same way. Often touted as a “natural” way to lose weight, the weight loss herbs in diet herbal tea are an attractive choice to many consumers.

Herbal products may be natural, but the truth is that they work because of the chemicals they contain, just like conventional medications. Being all-natural is not the same as being safe. The weight loss herbs in dieter’s tea, like many other herbal remedies, have side effects and can even be dangerous.

The Dangers of Diet Herbal Tea

At right: Botanical illustration of senna.

The ingredients of dieter’s tea may include senna (Senna alexandrina, also called Cassia angustifolia) and Chinese mallow (Malva verticillata), among other herbs. These weight loss herbs are stimulant laxatives, so called because they stimulate the muscles of the large intestine (bowel). Dieter’s tea with laxative ingredients works by flushing food from the digestive system before all the nutrients can be absorbed.

Laxative-based dieter’s tea can be dangerous if not used properly. The stimulant laxative herbs can cause cramping, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting lasting several days, especially in those using diet herbal tea for the first time. Long-term users can experience laxative dependence, a type of addiction in which the large intestine becomes sluggish and cannot function properly without the herbs in dieter’s tea.

When used in excess, a severe, life-threatening acute condition can develop. The stimulant laxative herbs can cause severe diarrhea, which in turn can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, fainting, and death. These severe problems are more likely to occur in very strict dieters and people with eating disorders because their nutritional status is already poor.

Safe Weight Loss With Dieter’s Tea

Diet herbal tea can be used as an aid to safe weight loss when used in moderation. The best course is to talk to your doctor before using dieter’s tea. It is important to follow the package directions carefully and never use more than the recommended dose. If significant side effects like diarrhea are encountered, the dose should be decreased; meanwhile, the diarrhea should be treated by increasing fluid intake (not more diet tea!).

In addition, for safe weight loss, herbal tea with stimulant laxative properties should not be taken within two hours of medications and supplements. Laxatives flush nutrients and medications from the system, so any necessary medicines should be taken separately. Some people, such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly, should not use these products.

References and Further Information on Dieter’s Tea

Paula Kurtzweil. “Dieter’s Brews Make Tea Time A Dangerous Affair.” 1997; published by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Illustration from Köhler’s Medicinal Plants by Franz Eugen Köhler, 1887.