It’s no secret- Americans are overweight. In fact, over 25% of us are carrying around way too much body fat. We also know it’s no secret that people spend a ton of money each year – to the tune of $33 billion dollars – to lose that weight. Unfortunately, it fails 95% of the time.
What many people don’t realize is that acupuncture can help you lose weight. That means no more pills and ham-fisted diet trends. Studies have shown that when acupuncture is combined with traditional methods of weight loss, then people can, in fact – lose more weight.
So how does it work?
In traditional Chinese medicine, it was believed that excessive weight gain was largely caused by imbalances in the body largely due to spleen and liver issues. Acupuncturists would zero in on specific body areas to stimulate weight loss. With the benefit of modern science, we’ve been able to enhance our practice as well to zero in on some of the systems that result in water retention and stimulate the nerve and hormonal imbalance. These systems include:
- The endocrine system and kidneys
- The spleen and thyroid gland
- Adrenal and ovary glands (in women)
Another method of acupuncture for weight loss is called ear stapling. And no – it’s not nearly as crazy as it sounds! Essentially, ear stapling is used to manipulate points on the ear to control food cravings. It’s also had other uses for stunting other adverse and addictive behaviors like smoking, drinking, and drug use. It’s had a particular use in terms of helping heroin addicts recover. When combined with diet and a 15-minute walk, studies showed that ear acupuncture resulted in significant weight loss compared to those without acupuncture.
That being said – while ear acupuncture is great – it NEEDS TO BE DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL. For the best results, you should always combine acupuncture with a traditional, reduced-calorie diet and physical exercise. While acupuncture is a great support system, it shouldn’t be viewed as its own modality. And like any medical condition, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking part.