Thursday, 20th of November 2008 How does it work?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), weight gain is caused by an imbalance of the spleen and liver organ systems. In TCM, the spleen is in charge of the digestive system to transform the food we eat into Qi. The liver is responsible for ensuring the smooth flow of Qi and blood. When there is an imbalance in these systems we experience symptoms such as tiredness, slow metabolism, bloating, cravings etc.
From a Western point of view, acupuncture has been shown to have effects on the nervous system, digestive system, endocrine system, metabolism and food cravings. When needles are inserted into the body, endorphins are released which have a calming and relaxing effect. This makes it easier to deal with the emotions which trigger overeating and binging.
Research has shown that acupuncture is effective in weight loss in a 2003 study published in The Journal of Medical Acupuncture. They found that participants who received acupuncture treatments lost more than three times more weight than the control group. Also, in a 1998 study done by the University of Adelaide in Australia, 95 percent of the participants who received electro-stimulation on acupuncture points experienced reduced appetite. It showed the acupuncture group was more likely to experience suppressed appetite and lose more weight compared to the control group.
Acupuncture for weight loss became more well known in 2003 after CNN did a report on successful weight loss clinics in China. To read more about this:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/11/02/china.obesity
What are Ear Points?
Auricular (ear) acupuncture has shown to be quite effective for weight loss. The human ear is a micro-system of the body in an inverted fetal position which contains points related to all the major organs and body parts, similar to foot reflexology.
Ear points for weight loss are stimulated with small pellets taped to the ear. These pellets normally stay on the ear for several days which are massaged gently several times a day and when cravings hit. This results in a direct stimulation which causes a mild endorphin release to help you gain control over temptations to eat.
Treatment plan for acupuncture weight loss
After the initial health and lifestyle consultation is done and the root cause of the weight gain is determined, a series of acupuncture and ear points are chosen to help rebalance the body. Points are chosen to increase blood/ qi circulation to stimulate the metabolism as well as treat various symptoms including cravings and anxiety. Most people experience a decreased appetite and reduced cravings with just acupuncture treatments however by combining nutrition and lifestyle changes plus an exercise program, the results will be enhanced.
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