Acupuncture For Weight Loss
Acupuncture, an age-old medicinal technique, provides numerous health advantages, including lowering anxiety, easing headaches and other pains, and preventing menstrual cramps and allergic rhinitis. Acupuncture can also help the body lose weight, though experts are still developing a comprehensive understanding of its benefits.
What Is Acupuncture?
The traditional Chinese medical procedure known as acupuncture involves inserting extremely fine needles into the skin to stimulate particular places on the body. Numerous research have examined the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating pain, particularly that related to headaches, osteoarthritis, back, knee, and neck discomfort. However, research on acupuncture’s potential benefits for other health conditions, like weight loss, has been less extensive.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
A common practice in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural flow of qi (life force) by placing needles in particular body areas. According to science, acupuncturists insert tiny needles into important bodily nerves to stimulate them and control metabolism and energy. Additionally, it promotes the release of endorphins, which help patients relax and feel comfortable.
TCM claims that the body has over 300 acupuncture sites that can be used to treat a variety of illnesses.
Does Acupuncture Help in Losing Weight?
TCM states that weight gain is caused by an imbalance in the body caused by problems with the kidney, spleen, thyroid, liver, and endocrine system. Consequently, the body can regain equilibrium and accelerate weight loss by promoting the flow of qi in certain regions.
When paired with other weight-loss strategies like exercise and eating a balanced diet, acupuncture can be a very powerful tool.
Ghrelin and leptin are the two hormones that are most crucial for weight loss. Leptin regulates fat storage and metabolism, while ghrelin governs appetite and meal stimulation. These hormones are stimulated by acupuncture, which improves digestion, increases metabolism, and lessens cravings.
How Can Acupuncture Help in Losing Weight?
By enhancing body processes including digestion, water retention, inflammation, appetite suppression, metabolism, hormone synthesis, and more, acupuncture for weight loss can be beneficial in a variety of ways.
Acupuncture can also help you lose weight by increasing your happiness and motivation to live a better life and go above and beyond to reach your objectives.
increases metabolism
Increasing metabolism is one of the best ways to lose weight. By controlling the pituitary gland’s activity, acupuncture can enhance metabolism, which aids in weight loss and calorie burning. The thyroid gland, which is crucial for the production of the hormones (triiodothyronine, or T3, and thyroxine T4) that control metabolism, internal temperature, energy levels, weight, and other factors, can also benefit from acupuncture.
elevates mood
When people are worried or overloaded, they may overeat or not exercise much. You can get rid of tension and anxiety, stop overeating, and feel more energized because acupuncture promotes the production of endorphins or feel-good hormones.
enhances digestion
Constipation, bloating, or gastrointestinal problems brought on by indigestion might result in fat accumulation. You can promote gut health, increase the body’s absorption of nutrients, and alleviate the painful symptoms of indigestion by using certain acupuncture points on your stomach and kidney.
Discourages the retention of water.
Acupuncture for weight loss focuses on activating the kidneys and the endocrine system’s nerves to inhibit water retention. Because the buildup of excess water in the body can manifest as excess weight, acupuncture can thus aid in rapid weight loss and avoid water retention.
lowers inflammation
Inflammation may hamper weight loss, weakening the immune system and slowing down metabolism. By controlling the body’s immunological response, acupuncture can help you feel better and experience less oxidative stress.
maintains hormone balance
Hormones are essential for sustaining critical functions like metabolism and reproduction. As a result, an imbalance in hormones can have detrimental effects on the body, including weakened immunity, weight gain, slowed metabolism, and indigestion. By controlling the production of ghrelin, the hormone that causes appetite, acupuncture and ear therapy can assist patients in losing excess weight.
Acupuncture Key Areas for Weight Loss
Numerous acupuncture sites that are associated with the neurological, digestive, and endocrine systems can aid in weight loss. Among them are:
Spleen 6: Four fingers above the ankle on the inner leg, this location can assist in controlling digestion and lessen food cravings.
Large Intestine 4: Located in the hand’s webbing between the thumb and index finger, this point is said to aid in lowering cravings and appetite.
Stomach 36: This acupoint, which is located beneath the knee on the outer thigh, can aid in enhancing metabolism and digestion.
The Acupuncture Method for Losing Weight
Your acupuncturist will determine your weight loss objectives and conduct a basic health history at your initial visit. To choose the best course of action for you, they will assist in determining the underlying cause of the issue (such as a sluggish metabolism, thyroid problems, or binge eating).
Acupuncture needles are tiny and made to function well without causing discomfort or bleeding. The needles are placed into certain body locations, including the ears, or at sites that represent the stomach and/or spleen, which are believed to control hunger and metabolism, to aid with weight loss.
The needles are typically inserted for 15 to 30 minutes each time. During your session, the practitioner may rotate or raise the needles as part of the method. Acupuncture treatments are said by many to be calming and comparatively painless.
The ear is often the focus of acupuncturists. According to an important study, activating specific outer ear sites may help balance hormones that lessen appetite and cravings.
Acupuncture Ear Therapy for Weight Loss
Due to the large number of nerve endings in the ear, ear therapy, also known as auricular acupuncture, is gaining popularity as a means of stimulating particular ear regions to cure a variety of illnesses and dysfunctions.
Current evidence suggests that ear therapy can be useful for weight loss, but further study is required to make firm conclusions about its effectiveness. Ear treatment functions by decreasing the release of ghrelin, the hormone that causes hunger. Ear Shen Men is a popular acupuncture point in the upper ear region that is said to help lessen the tension and worry that often lead to overeating.
Acupuncture’s Weight Loss Benefits
Because it can offer long-lasting comfort without the need for crash diets, invasive surgery, dietary medicines, or excessive activity, acupuncture is one of the greatest options for weight loss.
It takes a little effort, a little time, and a willingness to believe in conventional medicine. Through its effects on hormones, inflammation, and metabolism, acupuncture helps the body align with your weight-loss goals. However, it cannot take the place of moderate exercise and a healthy diet.
Points of Sensitivity for Acupuncture
Several important bodily parts should be the focus of acupuncture for weight loss. Particularly significant are the regions involved in food intake and digestion, including the spleen, stomach, and renal channel systems, as well as the auricular (ear) points that are connected to the mouth and, consequently, appetite. Enhancing hunger and metabolic rate can be achieved by acupuncture which stimulates the neuroendocrine system to maintain appropriate Qi flow in the body.
Auricular Treatment
Auricular therapy, or acupuncture applied to the ears, has been shown in several studies to be the most successful weight loss method in recent years. Since the Stone Age, people have utilized the ear, which is regarded as a homunculus, or small map of the body, to treat a wide range of medical issues.
There are two primary methods for losing weight: using a single needle to regulate appetite or a five-needle method for more all-encompassing bodily effects.
1-Needle Therapy: Designed to satisfy your hunger, this is the less complicated of the two common ear treatments. Applying a needle to the “mouth” point—the region that regulates appetite and hunger—can help decrease desires, which will help stop between-meal snacking and promote weight loss. This one spot is close to the tragus, the hard cartilaginous part of our inner ear nearest to the skin of our faces.
5-Needle Therapy: This method is more all-encompassing than using just one needle to treat hunger. This method involves inserting needles at important ear nerves that influence hunger, endocrine function, the spleen, stomach, and shamen, treating your ear as a microcosm of your entire body.
Essential Nutrition
A single lifestyle or behavior adjustment is unlikely to produce the intended outcomes, as is the case with any weight-loss plan. A healthy diet and regular exercise are advised to supplement acupuncture, even though they can successfully change your immune system, metabolic rate, and hormone levels linked to weight loss. You shouldn’t stop going to the gym or engaging in physical activity four or five times a week just because you have a few acupuncture sessions per week.
Eating simple, complete meals that are nutrient-dense, easy to digest, and low in sugar and processed foods is the greatest diet for losing weight. Eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains and less dairy, refined sugar, saturated fat, and soy-based foods at the same time.
Acupuncture side effects
When administered by a qualified and licensed practitioner, acupuncture is generally safe, and people may prefer it because it causes fewer side effects than taking medication.
Common mild, short-term side effects of acupuncture include:
- pain or tenderness at the needle site;
- bruising or bleeding at the needle site;
- dizziness; fainting; and drowsiness.
Serious side effects are rare with acupuncture.
The following are uncommon complications linked to the treatment:
- pneumothorax,
- or collapsed lung;
- central nervous system injury;
- peripheral nerve injury; organ injury;
- and other tissue injuries.
Precautions
To ensure safety, individuals should do their homework and seek out a qualified professional licensed to practice in their state. The majority of practitioners advise against acupuncture for patients with severe neutropenia, pacemakers, active infections, or psychosis.
How much does weight loss acupuncture cost?
A person usually needs multiple sessions to see results, just like with other weight loss techniques. It would take several sessions over a long length of time, up to eight weeks, with several weekly appointments, to lose 10 to 15 pounds.
Although the acupuncturist is primarily responsible for the program, most will gradually reduce visits as it goes along.
When to consult a physician
If food, exercise, and lifestyle modifications are ineffective in helping someone lose weight, they might want to consult their physician. Their physician might suggest helpful medications.
In certain situations, a physician might also suggest bariatric surgery. The following are the requirements for bariatric surgery:
Having a BMI of more than 35
Those with type 2 diabetes who have a BMI of 30 or higher and those who do not significantly reduce their weight or improve their comorbidities by nonsurgical means
It’s also crucial to see a physician before attempting unconventional or alternative weight loss methods.
A nationally qualified acupuncturist may also be recommended by doctors.
Conclusion
To promote healthy functioning in parts of the body that may be contributing to weight issues, acupuncture for weight loss aims to restore equilibrium in the body’s energy (qi) flow. You shouldn’t anticipate acupuncture to be a miracle cure, even while the research indicates encouraging signs that it may help with weight loss.
In addition to receiving acupuncture treatments, you should prioritize your overall health by eating a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, practicing stress management strategies, and continuing your normal exercise regimen. Along with your acupuncture treatments, a qualified and licensed professional could also be able to offer lifestyle and dietary counseling.
FAQs
Does acupuncture help with weight loss?
According to studies, acupuncture might aid with weight loss. However, research is inconsistent because it is unclear if a client’s weight loss is due to the acupuncture treatment or to their good outlook, which encourages them to make healthy decisions.
Where is the weight-loss acupuncture point?
It is believed that renzhong, which is situated along the ruling meridian, affects weight, particularly obesity. Less than an inch below the junction of the nostrils, this location is situated on the philtrum.
For weight loss, how many acupuncture sessions are required?
Several visits each week for six to eight weeks is a typical regimen if you want to lose 10 to 15 pounds, however different acupuncture practitioners advise varying degrees and durations of treatment. As the program develops, the weekly visitation frequency may decrease.
What drawbacks does acupuncture have?
If a skilled, licensed acupuncturist is utilizing sterile needles, the hazards associated with acupuncture are minimal. Typical adverse effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruises caused by the needles. Since single-use, disposable needles are now the norm, there is very little chance of infection.
How can I use acupressure to lose abdominal fat?
Activator of Metabolism: Stomach 36 (ST36): ST36, which is located one finger width outside the shinbone and four finger widths below the kneecap, is a potent metabolism enhancer that promotes the body to burn calories more quickly.
Which acupuncture point is number seven?
Spirit Gate is the translation of Shenmen. From just below the shoulder to the tip of the little finger is the heart meridian passage. The seventh pressure point is the primary one out of the nine. Heart 7 is another name for this pressure point.
Is daily acupuncture acceptable?
Before switching to longer, more spaced-out sessions, it may be helpful to have brief sessions every day to rapidly alleviate symptoms. However, daily acupuncture is not required for long-term use.
Reference
- Tee-Melegrito, R. A. (2023, April 25). What to know about acupuncture for weight loss. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/acupuncture-for-weight-loss#when-to-speak-to-a-doctor
- Curtis, L. (2024a, March 22). Acupuncture for weight loss. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/acupuncture-for-weight-loss-5088178
- Author, A. (2024, February 1). What can acupuncture do for weight loss? American Institute of Alternative Medicine. https://www.aiam.edu/acupuncture/acupuncture-for-weight-loss/
- Staughton, J., & Staughton, J. (2020, July 2). 7 Effective ways acupuncture can help in weight loss. Organic Facts. https://www.organicfacts.net/acupuncture-weight-loss.html