Unexplained weight loss is obviously a result of nutritional deficiency stemming from a loss of appetite or from certain types of sickness. Listed below are some home remedies that can help stimulate the appetite and reverse the effects of weight loss.
Topical Treatments
One recommended therapy that may help boost your appetite is dry-skin brushing. It aids the lymphatic system in flushing out toxins. It also helps improve kidney and digestion function when utilized on the stomach area. When doing dry-skin brushing use a non-nylon bristle brush and utilize it on your stomach; this activity will stimulate and release the gastric enzymes via the histamine which will improve your appetite.
Cool and warm compresses used alternately on the stomach and liver region may aid in bettering your appetite. You can apply a cold ice-bag over your stomach for half an hour prior to meals to increase your hunger pangs. You can also take cool baths 2X a day to also increase your hunger. These home remedies are helpful in improving the appetite of people with anorexia.
Home Remedies
An herb called blessed thistle is useful to help stimulate appetite of women suffering from loss of appetite as well as those with menopausal symptoms and menstrual cramps. Blessed thistle helps improve the movement of bile in the liver. Calumba and cardamom are herbs that greatly improve digestion. Other plants like roasted ground caraway seeds, juice extracted from coriander leaves and golden root are excellent ways to improve the appetite. Ginger as well as garlic has been known to enhance the desire for food.
One glass of port wine helps the elderly stimulate their appetite. This wine is usually slowly drunk just before meals. Culantro (not cilantro) is one herb that has been used to treat diarrhea and certain stomach problems. It is eaten to help improve appetite and digestion. Fresh Culantro leaves are turned into chutney and eaten.
Lifestyle
Exercise can induce short term appetite loss especially if it’s aerobic exercise. This type of exercise produces blood protein that suppresses hunger. After an hour or so, though, you will find your appetite coming back. However, you need to observe if your appetite is substantially affected by the aerobic exercise causing you to eat less rather than more.
A study done at University of Florida a few years ago concluded that exercising in cold water does help boost a person’s appetite. Subjects in this study had a caloric intake of almost 45% after they have exercised in cold water rather than in warm water. A 41% increase in caloric intake was seen in subjects who rested instead. A low body temperature is seen to stimulate and increase your appetite.