A mother from North Yorkshire has shed 3st 7lbs in 15 weeks after switching from the expensive weight-loss drug Mounjaro to a cheap natural supplement. Vicki McFarlane, 53, from Pickering, said she struggled with weight loss for years due to sugar cravings and a slowing metabolism during menopause.
She began taking Mounjaro in January 2025, spending £180 a month, and lost two stone in two months. However, she suffered from nausea, headaches and 'eggy burps', prompting her to stop. After reading about berberine, a natural compound used in Chinese medicine, she tried slow-release patches costing the equivalent of 30p a day.
Within days, Vicki noticed her cravings for biscuits and cake vanished. From June 30 to October 14, 2025, her weight dropped from 17st 9lbs to 14st 2lbs. She said: 'I always ate relatively healthy but it was all the cakes, chocolates, crisps and biscuits that I wanted in the evening. Now, I don't eat in the evening at all.'
Berberine has been dubbed 'nature's Ozempic' but studies on its weight-loss effects are not conclusive. Side effects can include diarrhoea, constipation and upset stomach. Vicki, however, believes it suppressed her appetite without the side effects of Mounjaro. She even got her husband Darren, 53, to try it with similar results.
After reaching her goal weight, she stopped the patches to avoid losing more, but returned to berberine tablets after gaining some weight over Christmas, losing a further 10lbs. She said: 'It's been life-changing for me. I feel like I've gained years of life.' Experts advise speaking to a doctor before trying berberine or any supplement.
