When acupuncture is combined with traditional methods of weight loss, patients lose more weight.
In a recent randomized controlled trial, acupuncture in combination with a 2,000 calorie a day diet and a 15-minute walk was found to be effective for weight loss. In this 6 week trial, those who received weekly acupuncture lost an average of 10 pounds. Those without acupuncture added averaged only a 3 pound loss.^
In Chinese Medicine, the belief has always been that while weight gain can be brought on by eating more food than the body needs, usually that’s not the sole cause. This ancient medicine understood that the body is wise and will hold onto weight in the face of stress or worry. Additionally certain “constitutions” or body types were appreciated; it was commonly accepted that some bodies will carry more weight than others in perfect health. While acupuncture theory may have been ahead of the curve, our current science helps us better understand HOW acupuncture actually helps support a healthy weight.
Acupuncture can support healthy weight in the following ways:
- For many people, stress, anxiety, and frustration are major triggers for overeating. Acupuncture works on the nervous system and in particular the vagus nerve to quiet the drive to eat as well as calm the mind.
- Acupuncture can stimulate the hypothalamus to cascade a hormone response that will encourage the body to burn stored fat rather than holding onto it.
- Ghrelin hormone induces feelings of hunger while leptin induce feelings of fullness and satisfaction. Acupuncture can be used to level imbalanced hormones that may have otherwise caused an insatiable appetite.
Can acupuncture be a helpful tool for you? At Mend, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all acupuncture treatment for healthy weight. Instead, we like to work on a client’s overall wellness goals, including relieving stress and anxiety and balancing overall health.
We suggest a series of 6-12 visits, starting with asking a variety of questions that help us understand the exact imbalance or block to weight loss. Questions like, “Are you tired after you eat?,” ‘“What time are you the most hungry?,” “What flavors do you crave most?” and “Are you prone to excess worry, jealousy or guilt?”
While we won’t promise that you’ll walk out of our clinics with immediate results, clients tend to feel lighter in mood and grounded in clarity. We are less concerned with how much you weigh, but rather how you are feeling in your body.
^Source: Abdi, et al. The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers. The Scientific World Journal. 2012.