Yerba Santa Extract May Help With Weight Loss

The yerba santa plant is an evergreen aromatic shrub that is indigenous to the hills and mountains of California, Oregon, and northern Mexico. Native Americans have used it for traditional medicine for centuries. A recent study has found that yerba santa may help with weight loss.

Participants in the study included 24 overweight and 25 obese women with an average age of 47.5. They were given 800 mg of yerba santa extract or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. Body weight and body fat were evaluated at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Blood leptin levels were also evaluated. Leptin is a hormone that helps inhibit hunger.

Participants in the yerba santa group lost an average of 4 pounds more than the placebo group. Obese participants in the yerba santa group also lost an average of 0.37% body fat. In addition, they saw reduced levels of leptin and reductions in emotional overeating.

The study was conducted by researchers from Ulm University of Applied Sciences. It was published online ahead of print on July 13, 2021, in the Journal of Medicinal Food.