As people's living standards improve, obesity is also on the rise. High blood lipids, high cholesterol, fatty liver, obesity-related hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease are common in clinical practice, and their incidence is increasing. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment based on syndrome differentiation can achieve good results in lowering lipids and promoting weight loss. This article summarizes recent reports from various medical journals on this topic, focusing on commonly used drugs and prescriptions, and outlines approximately six main methods. A brief introduction follows:
I. Stomach-soothing and fat-reducing method
Obesity is often caused by excessive consumption of rich and fatty foods, which accumulate in the stomach, leading to abdominal bloating, belching, acid reflux, foul taste, and a greasy tongue coating. Early use of hawthorn, barley malt, and radish seeds to soothe the stomach and aid digestion is highly effective. Herbal texts have long documented the use of these herbs to eliminate excess fat. Traditional formulas include Jiao San Xian and Bao He Wan, which are frequently used in pediatric traditional Chinese medicine. Commercially available hawthorn fruits, hawthorn cakes, and hawthorn buns are sweet and delicious, easy to carry, and convenient to consume. Fresh radish seeds, whether eaten raw or stir-fried, are very refreshing and can be considered one of the simplest dietary therapies for lowering lipids and losing weight.
