The widespread use of acupuncture for weight loss is the result of recent research developments showing that this approach can be successful. As reported by Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, recent studies have shown that when acupuncture is combined with traditional methods of weight loss, patients lose more weight. In these cases, one to three acupuncture weight loss sessions can be safe and effective in helping people achieve reasonable weight loss goals.

Acupuncture is an ancient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice that involves inserting thin needles into very specific points on the body. These needles are placed in order to stimulate key nerves in the body that regulate energy and metabolism, as well as numerous other factors that can affect your health. To promote weight loss, the acupuncturist focuses on  the endocrine system and kidneys, which are addressed to treat water retention and to stimulate nerve and hormonal balance. The spleen and thyroid gland are also targeted to effect sugar and hormonal balancing. Finally, the adrenal and ovary glands are included to treat weight gain due to menopause or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

The acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin about ¼-inch deep, up to a ½- inch, depending on the style of acupuncture and the desired effects. According to the tenet of TCM, this practice helps to improve the flow of Qi (vital energy) through the body.

How Does Acupuncture Help In Weight Loss?

Acupuncture can help with weight loss by regulating hormone production, improving the metabolism, optimizing digestion, reducing inflammation, suppressing the appetite, lessening water retention and optimizing other bodily functions that are related to obesity and weight loss.

1- Improves Digestion

Using stomach and kidney acupuncture points, it is possible to improve the functioning of the digestive system and even increase the amount of nutrients that are taken in by the body. By preventing slow digestion and improving gut health, you can relieve constipation, bloating and other gastrointestinal issues that may keep you sedentary or lead to fat deposition.

2- Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation or tension in the gut, muscles and other tissues of the body can slow down the metabolism, put strain on the immune system, and even impact heart health and digestion. By relieving tension and regulating the immune response of the body, acupuncture for weight loss can lower your levels of oxidative stress and optimize your body to shed the excess pounds.

3- Stops Water Retention

Stimulating the nerves of the kidney and endocrine system discourages water retention in the body. Preventing your body from storing excess water is a quick way to lose weight and help to keep it off.

4- Hormone Production

If your hormone levels are out of balance, many different bodily processes can be negatively affected, from digestion and cognition to healing and immune system function. Acupuncture of the spleen and Shen Men point in the ear are found to be  effective in balancing hormone levels.

5- Boosts Metabolism

Needles stimulating the thyroid area can boost the functioning of your pituitary gland, one of the key areas of the body in relation to metabolism. This can thereby increase the rate of fat-burning, making not only your workouts, but also your daily activities, more effective in burning calories and losing weight.

6- Improves Mood

Acupuncture is able to induce the release of endorphins in the body, which are feel-good hormones that can quickly eliminate stress and anxiety. Many people overeat when they have high levels of stress hormones, or are feeling overwhelmed. Acupuncture can help to eliminate those urges.

7- Sensitive Points for Acupuncture

When it comes to acupuncture for weight loss, there are a number of key areas on the body that should be focused on. As mentioned earlier, the areas related to digestion and food intake are particularly important, such as the stomach, kidney and mouth. Thyroid and endocrine acupuncture can also help regulate your hormone levels and ensure proper energy flow in the body, while also helping with appetite and metabolic speed. The lungs and spleen are also critical areas for weight-loss acupuncture, but the most important and unexpected sensitivity point for weight loss is actually the ear.

8- Ear Therapy

In recent years, acupuncture ear therapy (also known as auricular acupuncture) for weight loss has received a lot of attention after a number of studies were conducted that showed significant weight loss following ear therapy. The ear is one of the densest areas on the body for nerve endings that are linked all over the body. There are dozens of different specific points on the ear, carefully studied and recorded over thousands of years, that can impact your health.

As with any weight-loss strategy, a single change in your lifestyle or behavior is not likely to deliver the results you want. Even though acupuncture can effectively alter your metabolic and hormone levels, and address numerous issues related to weight loss, you should still complement this treatment with the proper diet and regular exercise.

Finding an experienced acupuncturist is an essential first step in determining a treatment plan focusing on stimulating weight loss. Our team at ARC Acupuncture & Physical Therapy has helped many people achieve their goals for a healthier, more active life. We invite you to learn more and contact us to schedule a consultation at one of our six Central Florida ARC Acupuncture & Physical Therapy locations.

Can Acupuncture Help Migranes?

Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular among sufferers of all types of headaches, both acute and chronic – as well as debilitating migranes. The effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving head pain also is becoming increasingly supported by clinical studies in the United States and other Western countries. As far back as 2008, Duke University issued a press release stating, “Acupuncture is more effective than medication in reducing the severity and frequency of chronic headaches.” Duke University’s own Duke Integrative Medicine facility in Durham, NC, offers acupuncture as an important component of its treatment options.

Acupuncture has also been recommended as a viable treatment for chronic headaches by the National Institutes of Health, attributing it with reducing the incidence and severity of tension headaches and possible prevention of migraines. A recent study conducted in Australia concluded that acupuncture is as good as prescription medication for a wide range of pain – including migraines.

In another report, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an analysis of an acupuncture study involving 249 participants who regularly suffered migraines. They were divided into three groups: those receiving acupuncture, those receiving “sham” acupuncture and a control group receiving no treatment. Over a 24-week period, those who received true acupuncture treatment revealed a significant change in the frequency of migraines, indicating long-term pain relief.

Different Types of Headaches

Because “headache” is a general term, it is helpful for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment to identify the categories into which this type of pain can be classified according to symptoms.

Tension Headache

About 90% of all headaches fall into this category. They may alleviate after a few hours, or occur more frequently and last all day. Tension headaches occurring more frequently and lasting longer are known as frequent episodic tension headaches. An even more severe form is the chronic tension headache.

Cluster Headache

This type of headache presents as a burning sensation around and above the eyes, at the temples and toward the back of the head. Other symptoms may include red, swollen eyes or a runny nose.

Migraine Headache

Migraines are typically characterized by pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of the head, photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light), nausea, vomiting and/or worsening of pain triggered by physical activity. The sufferer may experience an “aura” – a series of sensory and visual changes that occur just before an episode. Migraine headaches are often misidentified in self-diagnosis as a sinus headache.

Migraines are more common in people under 55 years old. According to the American Migraine Foundation, sufferer demographics consist of one in five women, one in 16 men and one in 11 children. The exact cause is not known, but some common triggers include stress, allergies, hormonal changes, caffeine withdrawal or overload, bright lights, lack of sleep, skipping meals, weather changes, alcohol (especially red wine) and foods containing nitrates.

Non-pharmaceutical Headache Relief

As people become more cautious about seeking pain relief from prescription medications, acupuncture provides treatment that has been part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice for more than 3,000 years. A review article in Practical Pain Management found that pain relief with acupuncture comes from inactivating the source of pain by modulating endorphin levels. In another study, acupuncture was shown to also stimulate the production of another natural painkilling chemical compound called adenosine. By releasing these powerful biological chemicals through acupuncture, the body goes to work on healing itself.

Finding an experienced acupuncturist is an essential first step in determining the type of headache to be treated and an appropriate treatment plan. Our team at ARC Acupuncture & Physical Therapy have helped many people relieve or eliminate pain and enjoy a better quality of life. We invite you to learn more and contact us to schedule a consultation at one of our six Central Florida ARC Acupuncture & Physical Therapy locations.