Most of the consumers of herbal medicine are mislead by the slogan that it is harmless medicine. Attractive eye catchers and distracting advertisement has contributed to a lot of consumer misleading. People in general consider herbal weight loss drugs as safe way out, without any side effects. In actual it is not the case every thing which can cause alteration to body metabolism do have some side effects. Appearance or manifestations of these side effects depend upon the type, duration and dose of the particular drug. Weight loss herbs are advertised as safest weight loss options but they do show following undesired effects in general.

Heart problems

One of the hazards attached with herbal weight loss is emergence or aggravation of heart problems with herbal weight loss therapy. A common over the counter sold herbal weight loss drug Ephedra causes heart problems specifically. Heart muscles are weakened in the process and in extreme cases there may be dilatation of the heart.

Hypertension

Blood pressure elevation is another unwanted effect of herbal weight loss drugs. The mechanism by which weight loss herbs exhibit this increase in blood pressure is still unclear but it is a strong manifestation of herbal weight loss therapy. Normally there is not much increase in blood pressure but in some extreme cases it may become uncontrollable.

Psychiatric problems

Not all but some weight loss herbs can cause confusion and psychiatric problems during the course of therapy. Confusion (loss of ability to apprehend a given situation) is just an initial sign of mental problems, which can complicate to severe other psychiatric disorders. Loss of memory, loss of balance and fits are other common problems.

Renal problems

Kidneys are other set of organs which undergo a lot of stress during the process of herbal weight loss therapy. Kidneys have to filter out the entire drug taken. During this process there can be damage to them. Damage can be slight which may go unnoticed as body repair mechanism come to heal or it can go to the point of renal shut down or failure.

Stroke and shock

Some weight loss herbs cause excessive urination to reduce weight. There is no loss of fat but body water is lost at rapid pace which can decrease in blood volume leading to shock (a condition in which Oxygen supply of tissues is lost mostly due to decreased blood volume). Some drugs can affect brain and can cause elevated blood pressures in brain leading to stroke.

Alimentary tract problems

Mostly all the drugs interfere with normal functioning of alimentary tract directly or indirectly. Weight loss herbs also have their effects on the gastrointestinal tract of drug using person. These effects are usually temporary and dose dependent. They eliminate usually with the stoppage of therapy. Alimentary tract symptoms usually range from diarrhea to constipation, but occasionally they may take form of a permanent disease.

So herbal weight loss is not a 100% safe choice. Along with its benefits it has its own disadvantages. The disadvantages should also be taken into account before going for herbal weight loss therapy. A specialist of herbal weight loss medication should be consulted and complete medical evaluation of the person going for therapy should be performed. Then depending upon the body condition of patient most suitable herbal weight loss supplements should be advised. There should be also the proper monitoring of the person taking herbal weight loss drugs.