Diet Fatigue? Try Acupuncture for Weight Loss

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Are you tired of dieting? Often when we start a new exercise or diet plan, we lack the energy to see it through. Acupuncture can help with weight loss because it increases our energy levels, making it easier to exercise and maintain a positive attitude.

Acupuncture can also boost metabolism and increase circulation through the application of acupuncture needles which mobilize the body’s energy reserves. This leads to weight loss and lowered cholesterol.

The practice of acupuncture is more than 5,000 years old, which is significantly older than Western medicinal therapies.

An acupuncture for weight loss program involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into particular spots on the skin in order to help the body function more efficiently.

How Acupuncture Helps Control Appetite

Acupuncture stimulates your body to release endorphins, which are the body’s own pain-relieving chemicals. It is theorized that one way acupuncture weight loss treatments work is by helping to control appetite through the release of these brain chemicals.

In the case of overweight people, an acupuncture specialist will begin with a physical and psychological examination in order to understand the reasons for the patient’s weight problem.

Once the fundamental causes of the weight problem are identified, the acupuncture specialist will insert needles into different areas of the person’s body in order to help improve the body’s functioning.

The insertion of very fine sterile needles into the body at specific points called “energy pathways” allows the free flow of energy throughout the body. This stimulates the body to repair and heal itself.

For a patient who wants to lose weight with acupuncture, the acupuncturist normally inserts five needles in each ear. Of these needles, four help with detoxification of the body: kidneys, lungs, nervous system and liver. The final needle aids in relaxation.

Acupuncture for Weight Loss Treatment Program

An acupuncture treatment program for losing weight will most likely consist of a multifaceted approach. For example, the acupuncturist may attempt to encourage weight loss by increasing the output of the pituitary gland.

Acupuncture may also help to reduce cravings for certain foods. The treatment strategy chosen by your acupuncturist will thus attempt to encourage a decrease in natural appetite. Specific needle placements are thought to lower insulin and lipid levels in the blood.

One benefit of acupuncture weight loss therapy is that there are no harmful side effects and there is no chance of addiction. Acupuncture is a natural way of supporting other weight loss efforts.

Benefits of Acupuncture Treatments

People who undergo acupuncture treatments often find that they sleep better at night. This leads to better balance of the body’s systems.

Acupuncture treatments need to be repeated on a regular basis in order to have long-term positive effects. However, the acupuncturist should inform the patient that the acupuncture treatment by itself is not likely to be enough to result in permanent weight loss.

It is also important to supplement the acupuncture sessions with diet and exercise. The acupuncturist can provide the patient with dietary guidelines as to what to avoid eating in order to promote the positive flow of energy throughout the body.

For people who have been struggling with a stubborn weight problem, acupuncture for weight loss can give their diet and exercise efforts a boost. Acupuncture combined with meditation can also be of help.

But does acupuncture for weight loss really work? Certainly, each individual is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. But it is definitely something that is worth a try for those who are struggling to get slim and seek an alternative method.