Acupuncture for Weight Loss

 

Many of us who diet get caught in a ‘yo-yo’ cycle that begins with low self-acceptance. We lack trust in our body and rarely listen to our body's signals of hunger and fullness. Ignoring our vital signs of appetite and hunger puts us under tremendous emotional and physical stress. Many people feel weak due to the decrease in calorie intake. Many people find that with acupuncture, modifications of diets and eating habits are no longer a challenge and energy is increased. Potential Benefits of Acupuncture for weight control are:

• Increased energy

• Decreased psychological symptoms such as irritability

• Suppression of appetite and cravings

• Balance of autonomic system (has a positive effect on psychological and physiological state)

• Support of detoxification process during the fat burning state (most toxic substances are deposited in the fat tissue)

 

Ear Acupuncture is an effective way to naturally suppress the appetite!

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There are two brain areas closely connected to our eating habits. The first area, which is called the feeding center (lateral hypothalamus), is responsible for the feeling of hunger. The other area is called the satiety center (hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus) and is responsible for the feeling of fullness. Both the feeding and satiety centers are vital sensory systems that are necessary for human survival. However, the systems sometimes become oversensitive or inactive which then causes problems. For example, if the feeding center is overactive, you may always feel hungry; conversely, if the satiety center is under active, you may not feel full so easily.

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Theoretically then, if we could possibly change the parameters of these two vital sensory systems similar to the way we adjust the thermostat of a refrigerator, we would not feel overly hungry and would feel full very easily, leading to weight reduction. There is no existing surgical or pharmaceutical intervention that is not accompanied by serious risks or side effects; however, we can stimulate these sensory systems in the brain with acupuncture. The most frequently utilized points are located on the ear. Reported effects of ear acupuncture include a decrease in appetite, feeling satiated sooner after eating, reduction of cravings (for sweets, fat, alcohol etc.), and decreased irritability. The needles are not applied directly into these brain areas but rather corresponding to points on the ears. There are over 200 such reflex acupuncture points on the ear, each corresponding with a different part of the body.