Acupuncture offers an easy and relaxing---though not inexpensive---way to lose 5 to 10 lbs. And it may help you lose additional weight by improving your metabolism and curbing your appetite. But if you expect to lose serious weight, success will depend more on what you put into your mouth than what an acupuncturist sticks into other parts of your body.
Weight Loss Yin and Yang
In Traditional Chinese Medicine---TCM---overweight and obesity are considered symptoms of bodily imbalance. A practitioner of TCM may determine that your weight problem is caused by excessive appetite, stress, poor adrenal function, sleep problems, water retention, hormones or emotional problems, or, perhaps, some combination of these and other factors. Acupuncture works by releasing blocked energy and restoring balance---harmonizing yin and yang. Treatments may be scheduled once- or twice-weekly for several months, gradually tapering off to a visit every 30 days or once balance has been restored.
Released Energy
When your body works efficiently, you will likely shed some unwanted pounds without effort. Ghim Lam, a TCM doctor who practices in the Los Angeles area, says many of his patients consider weight loss a happy side effect of treatment for other issues, including pain management and allergies. When blocked energy is released, appetite and metabolism function properly. But Lam also prescribes herbs and recommends dietary changes for patients whose primary goal is weight loss.
Acupuncture Weight Loss Research
Although acupuncture has been used in TCM for thousands of years, its use in Western cultures is relatively new. Research to establish its effectiveness according to clinical trial standards remains sparse. A clinical trial conducted in 2009 by C.H. Hsu did, however, indicate that acupuncture may be a helpful treatment in obesity. Hsu and other researchers at Chang-Gung University found that auricular acupuncture---placing needles in specific points on a person's ears---lowered two hormone peptides linked to obesity. Hsu's research, reported in "Drug Week," concluded that acupuncture may successfully treat a cause of obesity. The study did not seek to determine whether acupuncture directly correlated to weight loss.
Acupuncture and Herbs
TCM practitioners frequently prescribe herbs to their weight loss patients to supplement acupuncture. You may be given herbs with traditional weight loss functions of controlling appetite and revving metabolism. Green tea, for instance, is aimed at burning fat. But you may also be told to take herbs to strengthen your spleen, improve your sleep and calm your nerves. According to TCM, your spleen controls your appetite, proper sleep releases weight-reducing hormones and relaxation boosts energy, reducing the urge to seek energy from sugary snacks. Herbs and acupuncture work as a tag team to put your body in its best fat-busting form.
Considerations
Acupuncture doesn't give you a free pass to eat whatever you want. A TCM practitioner, armed with ancient wisdom, will likely give you some modern-sounding advice: stay away from sugar, refined carbohydrates and fat. Acupuncture, although covered by some health insurance plans, is considered an alternative medicine. If you want to try acupuncture for weight loss, check the credentials of the TCM practitioner you plan to visit. And if you have any pre-existing health problems, consult your regular physician before embarking on a weight loss program.
References
- "Drug Week"; Obesity; Study Findings From Chang-Gung University Broaden Understanding of Obesity; July 17, 2009
- "The Straits Times"; Can you poke your flab away?
- Ghim Lam; acupunturist; Nature's Grace Wellness Center; Glendale, California; Feb. 7, 2009
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults; Kevin C. Maki, et al; 2009
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