Why is obesity a national epidemic?
The problem is that it is against our nature to limit calories. We instinctively eat more than we need to. This is a "gift" passed down from our hunter-gatherer ancestors from a time when there wasn't a drive-thru window on every corner. We also tend to eat in excess due to our modern lifestyles, chronic stress, and other psychological/emotional triggers.
The problem is that it is against our nature to limit calories. We instinctively eat more than we need to. This is a "gift" passed down from our hunter-gatherer ancestors from a time when there wasn't a drive-thru window on every corner. We also tend to eat in excess due to our modern lifestyles, chronic stress, and other psychological/emotional triggers.
People will go to drastic measures to lose weight. Fad diets ask you to eat an unnatural and unhealthy diet, such as a meal plan of cabbage soup or pineapples or rice or no-carbs. They may work in the short term because of the low caloric intake, but there is absolutely no way you can maintain it. Your body and mind will rebel and take revenge for putting it on such a restrictive regime, rather than providing whole foods with proper nutrients. Instinctively, your body will crave foods and gorge, filling up, preparing for the next starvation, packing on fat for stored energy.
Eating an unnatural and highly restrictive diet can cause yo-yo dieting and drastic ups and downs in body weight. Improper diet practices can also cause malnutrition, organ damage, slow metabolic rate and imbalances within the body.
Wouldn'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, soothes 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.
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, which, in turn, can cause the spleen and the whole digestive system to function poorly and decrease your metabolism. Liver disharmony can also cause some of the triggers that lead to cravings and compulsive eating.
Backed by Research
A growing body of research supports the use of acupuncture and Asian medicine in weight loss:
A 2003 study published in The Journal of Medical Acupuncture found that participants receiving acupuncture lost more than three times more weight than the control group.
In a study conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia in 1998, 95 percent of the participants receiving electro-stimulation on acupuncture points reported appetite suppression. The results showed that the acupuncture group was more likely to experience a reduced appetite and to lose weight than the control group.
The Acupuncture Weight Loss Treatment
From a TCM perspective, the acupuncture points and foods that are chosen to assist with weight loss directly influence the qi of the spleen and liver meridians and treat the root imbalances that are causing the weight gain.
From a Western perspective, acupuncture and TCM have been shown to have an effect on the function of the nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, food cravings, and metabolism. All of which can help to energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite, and reduce anxiety.
Acupuncture Points 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 seeds to leave on in-between treatments, abdominal massage, breathing exercises, and food/lifestyle recommendations
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