Understanding Acupuncture Weight Loss Treatment
Those who suffer from obesity are at greater risk for dangerous diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. For a better quality of life, acupuncture for weight loss can help shed unwanted pounds with no harmful side effects. Using tiny needles, acupuncture can promote relaxation and help curb overeating.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture is one approach that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses to treat the body’s electrical system and maintain a balanced flow of yin and yang. Yin and yang make up two opposing forces in the body, for example, hot and cold or passive and active. TCM believes that an imbalance of yin and yang in the body can cause illness. This is where the use of tiny needles, commonly known as acupuncture, comes in. TCM uses pathways along the body, called meridians, to apply acupuncture and unblock the flow of energy, restoring a healthy balance.
Do Only Doctors Perform Acupuncture?
To practice acupuncture legally, a Masters Degree in Acupuncture or Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is required. Acupuncturists are not always referred to as “doctors,” although some physicians may hold a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM). Health care providers or medical doctors can offer acupuncture treatment with less training. For your safety, check your acupuncturist’s credentials if the practice seems questionable.
Acupuncture Points and Electrostimulation
An examination by an acupuncturist can determine if you have digestive problems or other symptoms that may cause overeating. Certain ear acupuncture for weight loss can help reduce stress and anxiety, which are common triggers for overeating. The acupuncture weight loss points vary for each person. Auricular acupuncture, or ear acupuncture, can help achieve weight loss by inserting needles into certain parts of the ear, releasing endorphins that produce a calming effect. Sometimes, a practitioner will use ear tacks to achieve a long-term effect. Ear tacks are meant to stay in the ear cartilage for around a week, and then they fall out on their own.
Acupuncture for weight loss points may also include other parts of the body. Inserting needles into points that stimulate the stomach, liver and kidney is said to produce positive results for water retention, along with proper oxygen and blood flow to the whole body. These acupuncture weight loss needles are usually kept in the body for around 30 minutes. Your acupuncturist may incorporate electrostimulation. Electrostimulation uses a very light electrical impulse to stimulate parts of the body. Leads are gently clamped onto the acupuncture needles and connected to a battery-powered device.
Number of Treatments Needed
The number of weight loss acupuncture treatments needed varies for each individual. It depends on how much weight you want to lose, the severity of your overeating or binging and how fast you want to lose the weight. Some patients will need daily visits; others will need bi-weekly or weekly acupuncture therapy. Once the desired body weight is achieved, maintenance therapy will be needed, around four visits per year. A healthy diet and exercise will make losing the weight easier.
Nutrition and Exercise
Do not rely on acupuncture alone to help you lose weight. A healthy diet of low-fat, low-calorie foods and a regular exercise routine should be used in conjunction with acupuncture to achieve weight loss. Avoiding sugars, eating plenty of vegetables and baking or broiling proteins can help melt the pounds away. Exercises that increase your heart rate, such as aerobics, will burn calories and boost metabolism. Proper nutrition and exercise will compliment acupuncture in the weight loss process.
Acupuncture Side Effects
The side effects of using acupuncture for weight loss are few. Upon insertion of the needles, the prick may sting a bit and the tissue surrounding the needle may feel sore, until they are removed. For the most part, these symptoms resolve within minutes. Always be sure your acupuncturist uses sterile needles to avoid infection.
Usually, weight loss acupuncture manifests a feeling of deep relaxation. It is very rare that a needle penetrates a vital organ, such as a lung or kidney. Some may experience changes in bowel, urination, appetite or sleep patterns. This is considered normal and signals that the acupuncture is working. If nausea, sweating or dizziness occurs, discuss it with your acupuncturist.
The use of acupuncture for weight loss has become more widely accepted in the western world. This safe, holistic approach to healing the body naturally can help curb cravings by increasing serotonin levels. For effective weight loss, incorporate a healthy diet and an exercise routine into your weight loss regime. Should you experience unexpected symptoms after weight loss acupuncture, contact your practitioner.