Appetite improvement for weight gain?

Question
My wife needs to gain weight, due to weight loss after a few illnesses. Her doctor has recommended, to improve her appetite,  Megace or Align. However, these seem prohibively expensive. Any thoughts as to alternatives?
We're already on a slow exercise program.

Answer
Dear Chas,

For many people in need to improve appetite, meal spiced with peppers, horseradish, mustard, etc. as well as bitter or aromatic teas (peppermint, wild cherry - berries and bark, ginger, cinnamon or their combination), and moderate alcohol have good results. Most famous is dandelion, root and leaf.

Herbalists advise on the following herbs and foods: Barberry, Black Currant, Chicory, Dandelion, French Sorrel, Garlic, Ginseng, Goldenseal, Ground Ivy, Hops, Horseradish, Mugwort, Oatstraw, Parsley, Safflower, Tarragon, Thyme, Wood Sorrel, Watercress, Yarrow.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is used to treat loss of appetite, as a bile stimulant, diuretic, circulatory tonic, skin toner, blood tonic, and digestive tonic.  (Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 227 (2008), pp. 125?35.) Dandelion root water extract improved lipid metabolism (Clin. Chim. Acta 317 (2002), pp. 109?17)

If health condition allows, careful introduction of muscle-building exercises will help since they enhance resting metabolic rate and make the desirable weight gain healthier.

Tanya Zilberter

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