Can You Lose Weight With Acupuncture?

The quest to find new strategies for losing weight is a common one. If you are like many others who need to drop a few pant sizes, you're probably interested in finding out what safe, effective treatments are available to assist you on your weight loss journey. Acupuncture is one such alternative therapy that has been the subject of several research studies. With a rich history in ancient Chinese medicine, acupuncture is used to treat a variety of health ailments. Findings are mixed, however, as to just how effective acupuncture can be for weight loss.

Understanding Acupuncture

Dating back thousands of years, acupuncture has long been used as a traditional healing technique in China and many other Asian countries. Traditional Eastern medicine seeks to balance the energies in the body, as imbalance is considered to be the cause of illness. Acupuncture is a practice used to treat this imbalance and involves stimulating specific points in the body. The most familiar method involves using very thin needles to achieve this stimulation. Acupuncture became more well-known in the United States in the 1970s and more than three million Americans have used this treatment, according to the results from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey.

Role in Weight Loss

The benefits of acupuncture for a variety of physical ailments have been studied over the years, and its role in weight loss has been of considerable interest. Practitioners believe that imbalances in the liver and spleen contribute to decreased metabolism and overeating, causing weight gain. The goal of acupuncture for weight issues, which typically involves ear acupuncture, is to restore balance so that metabolism speeds up and stress levels are reduced, which can limit emotional eating. Acupuncture may reduce cravings, but practitioners acknowledge that this treatment must be combined with a healthy lifestyle to be effective.

Research Findings

Several studies over the years have examined the effect of acupuncture on weight loss, and findings have been mixed. Many studies do find benefits. For example, a 2006 study in the "International Journal of Neuroscience" found that acupuncture decreased appetite, stress and anxiety in obese women. These findings support those in an older 1998 study, published in the journal "Australian Family Physician," which found that 95 percent of participants who used ear acupuncture had decreased appetite. Weight loss was also significantly higher in these participants in comparison to the control group. A review of the literature, however, finds that while acupuncture for weight loss shows promise, long-term follow-up of participants' ability to keep the weight off is lacking, according to a systematic review published in 2009 in the "International Journal of Obesity."

Things to Consider

Acupuncture has few potential side effects. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that the few reported cases of complications have been tied to practitioners using unsanitary needles and incorrect administration. Receiving treatment from a qualified, experienced practitioner can go a long way toward reducing or eliminating such risks. Many states require acupuncturists to obtain licensure. Find out if the practitioner you plan to visit is certified by reputable organizations such as the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Consider seeking treatment from a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture; members must be licensed physicians who have received approved training in acupuncture.