I went exploring through all my books to find this info for a friend and thought some of you here might find it helpful.
Sheri
This is from Smarter Medicine for a Healthier Child (I think the info is good for all ages)
-Chromium Picolinate, or GTF (Glucose Tolerant Factor), helps to control blood sugar levels and diminishes cravings for sugar. Remember, low blood sugar sends hunger signals to the brain, causing you to want to eat something- anything- quickly. It says a teenager can take 50 mgs, 1-2x per day for up to a month. I use this and it seems like the recommended amount on the container was more than that. I am thinking it was about 200 or 400 mgs per day. Follow the bottle recommendations.
-Lipotropics (choline, inositol, methionine) help to control blood sugar levels, improve liver function, and enhance fat and carb metabolism. Lipotropics help the body use nutrients more efficiently, making it easier to eat less. Take a lipotropic supplement 2x daily with meals, following dosage directions on the product
-Dong Quai is a chinese herb that is helpful for dieters, especially females, who become tired and have little energy. It is particularily good for those who find it difficult to eat well around their period (guilty as charged!) It is recommended to take it 1x per day for 2 weeks of the cycle (my other books recommend from day 14 to when you get your period- DO NOT TAKE DURING YOUR PERIOD AS IT IS A BLOOD THINNER AND COULD INCREASE BLEEDING- ALSO IF YOU ARE SCHEDULING SURGERY MAKE SURE TO MENTION IT TO YOUR DR.
-Licorice root in tea or tincture is a natural herb that reduces cravings for sweets by strengthening the adrenal glands, thereby helping sustain a regulated blood sugar level. Licorice tastes sweet. It can be added to other teas, such as those I will be listing, to sweeten them. Use once daily, one week out of every month for up to 3 months. Caution- this herb should not be used by those with high blood pressure (Sheri's note I have heard that when only used for one week per month that it is okay for moderately high blood pressure. Use your best judgement)
-Cleansing and chlorophyll rich parsley tea (oh giant YUCK!) is a mild diuretic. Once daily for a week when beginning a new dietary routine.
-Red clover aids in detoxifying a body burdened with excess pounds. Take one dose of red clover tea, once daily, for one week out a month for up to 3 months.
-Red Raspberry tea reduces teh appetite, balances the hormonal system, and increases energy- and it tastes good. One dose 2x per day one week out of each month for up to 3 months. Do not take this tea before bed though as it may be too energizing (This has not been Sheri's experience. I actually sleep better when drinking this before bed BUT I do take it along with Nettle and Oatstraw (which is a nervine relaxant) )
-Siberian Ginseng helps to stabalize blood sugar levels and reduce cravings for sweets. It is also a natural energizer. One dose daily, one week out of every month, for up to 3 months
I am thinking that this recommendation of one week per month is a little cautious. I would personally feel fine about using the Raspberry and the Ginseng throughout the month.
-Homeopathics-
-Argentum nitricum reduces cravings for sweets. One dose 30x or 9c, twice daily for up to one week
-If you have difficulty controlling appetite and eat to calm your nerves, take one dose of Calcarea Carbonica 12x or 6c, 3x per day for up to one week when starting a new diet.
-If you are excitable and nervous and eat to calm down, Coffea Cruda will help. After you have tried Calcarea Carbonica for 3 days, try one dose of Coffea Cruda 12x or 6c , 3x daily for up to 3 days.
These are some accupressure points. It says to press on both sides of the body at the same time. First you do Gallbladder 20 which is located at the base of the skull on both sides of the spine. You need to press on these hard enough to feel a little 'good' pain and hold until it seems to release- a few minutes.
Then after you have done both of those points then at the same time you do Gallbladder 21 on both sides. This is in the muscles that run from your neck down to your shoulder. You probably have rubbed this spot before when you have been tense.
This is from The Complete Women's Herbal by Anne McIntyre...
-Wild Oats (Avena sativa) are helpful in lowering blood sugar, fluid retention and the fiber can help lower cholesterol, fight obesity, lower blood pressure and minimize varicose veins. They are also full of protein, calcium, magnesium, silicon, potassium, iron and vitamins. You can drink oatstraw tea or eat oats (try to keep to the most whole oats possible as opposed to quick cooking oats. Bob's Red Mill brand probably has some nice oats or the food co-op)
Healing Wise by Susun Weed
-Seaweed- as little as one tsp per day can help with thyroid function and obesity. It is highly nutritious and can help to eliminate water retention, get your lymp fluids moving, help with bladder and kidney problems etc, etc, etc. (lots of great info in this book.
This is from a pamphlet I have
Weight reduction- Spirulina (this is a blue green algae, highly nutritious), alfalfa, parsley, fennel seeds, chickweed, lecithin, bladderwrack (seaweed), licorice root, safflower, Irish moss, dulse (seaweed), sassafras, burdock root, black walnut, papaya (this has really good digestive enzymes- I think you can buy the supplement for the enzymes it offers, if like me you can't stomach papaya)
Health from God's Garden by Maria Treben suggests
Corn Silk Tea- a natural, effective and rapid way of dealing with excess weight. Drink up to 4 cups a day, taking care to sip it slowly. Take one heaping tsp of finely chopped corn silk for each cup of tea. Pour on hot water and let the herbs steep for 30 seconds before straining them off.
Wild chicory tea- Drink one cup of wild chicory tea every day before breakfast taking care to sip it slowly. Use one heaping tsp of wild chicory root for each cup of tea and soak it in a cupful of cold water for 12 hours. Then heat up the infusion gently and strain it.
The Herbal Home Remedy Book by Joyce A. Wardwell
Eat spicy hot foods to rev up your metabolism and burn off fat. Drinking ginger tea may actually increase metabolism as much as 25 percent, helping you to burn off extra calories.
Herbs that aid digestion also help the body eliminate fat. Dandelion is the queen of the fat burning herbs; mild in action, it will also replace any minerals lost to its slight diuretic action. Other herbs that help are burdock, catnip, lavender and thyme.
Natural Remedy Book for Women by Diane Stein
-Begin with a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement of good quality; if assimilation is a problem, they come in liquid form. A high level B-complex-50 is next, used twice a day, with additional B-6 (100mg) for fluid retention and to change stored fat to energy. additional B-5 (500mg with each meal) doubles the rate of fat assimilation and boosts the adrenals. Lecithin taken with meals helps the body burn fat, reduces blood cholesterol and prevents or aids high blood pressure and artery disease. These are essential for liver function as well. Use Vitamin C (3000-6000mg per day) for glandular functions and Vitamin E (400-800IU per day) doubles the rate of fat metabolism again. Start with 400IU of E and increase by 100 IU per week; if you have rheumatic heart disease you are limited to 400 IU total daily. (I have heard this if you have high blood pressure as well) Essential fatty acids aid in utilization of fat already in the body, suppress appetite and keep off lost weight. Use as evening primrose oil, salmon oil, black currant oil or cod liver oil. If you are hypoglycemic and also to reduce fluid retention try potassium (90mg). Chromium (200mcg) aids weight loss by balancing blood sugar. All women need to be on a calcium/magnesium supplement; it helps water retention, is a muscle relaxant and slight carminative and an antacid.
-Herbs- chickweed, cleavers, and pokeroot are herbs that stimulate weight loss by helping to burn fat. Raw chickweed can be used in salads with mustard greens, shepherd's purse or pepper grass or use the dried herb or tincture. Use cleavers as a tea three or more times a day-it will take until the seventh week to notice change, but then the change will be considerable. White ash bark also helps weight loss, and yerba mate or fennel decrease appetite and aid digestion. Saffron is a blood cleanser, as is dandelion (for the liver) and hawthorn is helpful for the heart. Try hawthorn and chickweed together in tincture twice daily for obesity and heart disease or high blood pressure. Stevia is an herbal sweetener that is safe. Use alfalfa along with other herbs as a nutrient, cleanser, and detoxifier that enhances the effects of other herbs and vitamins. Parsley is a diuretic, and senna or cascara sagrada are laxatives. Use glucommanan or bran half an hour before breakfast- it provides fiber, reduces appetite, is a laxative and stabilizes blood sugar. Do not take within an hour of vitamins or medications. Licorice root lowers blood sugar and stimulates the adrenals but is not for women with high blood pressure, it is an improtant help for hypoglycemia. Bladderwrack (seaweed) stimulates thyroid.
-Homeopathic- ...here are some suggestions. Try Phytolacca Berry every eight hours on a month's trial. If no response try Ammonium Bromatum where there is obesity with chronic mucus congestion. cough, neuralgic headaches or constrictive pain in the head chest or legs. The woman may bite her fingernails. Calcarea Carb. is the remedy for obesity from impaired nutrition with pituitary or thyroid dysfunction, increased perspiration, fleeting chest pains, tickling cough, nausea, acidity, and or easily out of breath. The woman is pale, sensitive to cold and has a sour damp perspiration. Use Calcarea Arsenicosa for obesity at menopause, where the slightest emotion causes palpitations. There may be edema, chilliness, weak heart, kidney or pancreatic disease and symptoms are worse for the slightest exertion.
-Accupressure- massage the full ear fles on both sides for endocrine balancing. Do full hand or foot accupressure working slowly up to daily or twice daily. Pay particular attention to the following organs: pituitary, pineal, parathyroid, thyroid, pancreas, adrenals, kidneys and sex hormones. See photocopy for more detail.
-Aromatherapy-Use any of the following in baths or massage oils; angelica, birch, fennel, citrus, red thyme or lemon. Sage, marjoram and rosemary improve elimination of toxins and tone intestinal tissues.
-Flower essences (this is The Bach Flower Remedies) Apricot of banana essence are for obesity due to hypoglycemia, and paw paw is for malassimilation of nutrients and eating disorders. Use redwood for obesity from endocrine imbalance or pituitary dysfunction and sunflower dissolves fatty tissue.
-Emotional Healing- You are insecure and vulnerable, afraid to show your power or your fear. Food is a hiding place, a substitute fulfillment, and weight is protection. There is a small scared child inside who needs your love; take care of her, protect her, and allow her real feelings to emerge. There is a powerful woman inside with the child; let her throw her weight around and take up space. You are strong and competent and good. You don't need to hide behind fat or food. You are loving and lovable- love yourself. You are safe
Breast Cancer, Breast Health by Susun Weed (GREAT BOOK if you can get past the aura stuff, so much wonderful nutrition info on how to keep yourself healthy and protected from cancer- breast and otherwise- as well as how to use herbs and food in conjunction with conventional medicine when treating cancer- sorry had to put in Sheri's plug!)
She suggests eating chickweed salad, fennel tea and bladderwrack soup. This is made by simmering a handful of dried bladderwrack for 15 min (start with cold water), then drink the resulting liquid, compost the seaweed. 75-100 drops of chickweed tincture daily or eat copious amounts of fresh chickweed (this grows all over my garden and probably yours- let me know if you want some) For water retention use burdock, dandelion or nettle.
Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal
Obesity- burdock, chaparral, chickweed, fennel, golden seal (I believe this is endangered) hops, horsetail, irish moss, kelp, uva ursi
Vitamins B, C, E and Lecithin
Minerals Calcium, Iodine (in seaweed) Potassium
Weight Loss formula A- Black walnut, chickweed, dandelion, echinacea, fennel, gotu kola, hawthorn, licorice, mandrake, papaya, safflower
Weight loss formula B- Fennel, hawthorn, licorice, red beet (beets are extremely cleansing)
The Humorous Herbalist by Laurel Dewey
Drinking dandelion root or leaf tea alone won't make you shed those pounds but incorporating it into your weight loss regimen is a natural way to remove unwanted salts and toxins from your body. Drink two to three cups per day
Herbs for Weight loss 
