Weight Loss
What is Overweight?
How Does Acupuncture Work in Weight Loss?
Weight loss according to Traditional Chinese Medicine
What points are used for Weight Loss?
What is the Total Health Program?
What is Overweight?
Over 25 percent of Americans are overweight and trying to lose weight. Although Americans spend over 33 billion dollars annually on weight loss programs, unfortunately many people fail to loose weight. Fortunately, medical acupuncture can help people loose weight by changing the body from within!
To change your physical appearance, you have to change the emotional and mental habits that caused you to gain weight in the first place. These habits have resisted changes for a long time. Acupuncture will help you break these habits. Losing weight will make you healthier, more self-confident and more successful!
How Does Acupuncture Work in Weight Loss?
According to the Chinese theory of medicine, weight gain is a result of an digestive system that is not in Harmony. The use of acupuncture for weight loss is effective, as it will help in strengthening the digestive system. As acupuncture helps in regaining control of appetite, it is able to make a person lose weight. In fact, theoretically acupuncture for weight loss means it will improve the metabolism and helps to burn more calories and at a fast rate as well.
Would’t it be great to decrease the amount of food that you take in, and increase the amount of energy you expend? It’s entirely possible, thanks to acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Acupuncture and TCM address both the physiological and psychological aspects of weight loss. A comprehensive therapy for weight issues rooted in TCM promotes better digestion, smooths emotions, reduces appetite, improves metabolism, and eliminates food cravings.
Weight loss according to Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to TCM, the root of excess weight is an imbalance within the body caused by malfunctioning of the spleen and liver organ systems.
In five-element theory, the spleen is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive system, ensuring that the food we eat is transformed into Qi — the vital substance of life. Disharmony of the spleen will have symptoms such as fatigue, slow metabolism, water retention, loose stool, and feeling of heaviness. According to the TCM theory, each organ has a certain taste that corresponds to that organ. The Spleen organ is sweat foods. When your body is deficient, your body craves certain foods to help it regenerate. By regulating the Spleen, (stimulating certain points on your body), Acupuncture can calm the cravings.
The liver’s job is to keep the flow of your body’s Qi and blood (as well as your emotions) running smoothly. Our modern, fast-paced lifestyle and chronic stress can negatively impact the liver’s ability to function properly and smoothly, which, in turn, can cause the spleen and the whole digestive system to function poorly and decrease your metabolism. Most people when their emotions are triggered look for food as a comfort. According to the TCM theory, each organ has a certain taste that corresponds to that organ. The Liver organ is sour foods. When your body is deficient, your body craves certain foods to help it regenerate. By regulating the Liver, (stimulating certain points on your body), Acupuncture can calm the cravings.
What points are used for Weight Loss?
The beauty of acupuncture is that each treatment is catered to the needs of the individual patient. Acupuncture points on the body will be chosen for overall well being with the objective of increasing circulation of the blood and Qi (stimulating the metabolism) and calming the nervous system. In addition to treating the root of the imbalance within the body, different acupuncture points may be chosen for each treatment as different symptoms arise. For instance, if you are experiencing a desire to overeat related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) one week, then that can be addressed at that week’s appointment.
Generally treatments are scheduled once or twice a week for 8 to 12 weeks or until the goal weight has been reached. The treatments include a combination of auricular (ear) and body acupuncture, ear tacks or pellets to leave on in-between treatments, herbs and supplements, abdominal massage, breathing exercises, and food and lifestyle recommendations.
Ear Points
Acupuncture points on the ears have been found to be particularly effective for weight loss. The human ear has been described as a micro-system of the body in an inverted fetal position; it contains points relating to all major organs and body parts.
Auricular points for weight loss are stimulated with small ear beads. Then seed-sized beads are placed on the points to enhance the effectiveness of the points at home. The beads will generally stay in place for 3 days and can be gently massaged for 10-second intervals if cravings occur.
Here are some of the most commonly used auricular points:
Shenmen: Important point for calming the mind and reducing stress
Small Intestine: Reinforces spleen, promotes digestion.
Mouth: Calming point used for smoking, over eating and hyperactive talking.
Hunger Point: Used to relieve hunger and control compulsive eating
Endocrine point: Moves liver Qi and aids in the function of the metabolism
What is the Total Health Program?
Most patients report a marked decline in appetite and cravings with acupuncture alone but herbs, healing foods, and exercises can definitely enhance the efficacy of the treatments.
Herbs and Healing Foods: The herbs and foods that are chosen during a weight loss treatment are for promoting healthy digestion, energizing the body, augmenting Qi, and improve elimination of water, toxins, and waste products. Foods that are bitter, sour and acrid to taste are especially good for weight loss, while sweet, salty and greasy foods should be reduced.
Abdominal massage/exercise: Points on the abdomen improve digestion, absorption of food and peristalsis of the intestines. The abdominal points can be stimulated with massage or by belly breathing, where the abdomen is consciously moving in and out with each breath. Deep breathing with visualization can also strengthen will power and be used as a tool to curb hunger and cravings.
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine are powerful tools for healthy weight loss, by itself or as a supportive treatment in conjunction with other weight management programs.
In the struggle to eat less and expend more energy, you may find that acupuncture is just what was needed to overcome cravings, boost energy, enhance your metabolism, and increase your willpower to succeed!
For Your Free Consultation, Call Angie at (423)-839-4764
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