The Finer Points of Acupuncture and Weight Loss

Acupuncture can be a frightening thing for some people, especially those with a fear of needles. For the skeptics, its effectiveness can be hard to comprehend. However, acupuncture is rarely painful, and it has been proven to be useful for many problems.

What if I told you that acupuncture could help drop those unwanted pounds and keep them off for good? Does it sound too good to be true? Fortunately, it isn’t.

Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that uses needles to prick specific pressure points on the body. These needle pricks release endorphins, making you more able to deal with the things that often lead to overeating and weight plateaus: worry, anxiety, and anger. Additionally, the release of endorphins can help your metabolism get back on track, making it easier to control and lose weight. However, acupuncture won’t work on its own. Without the self-motivation and determination to change your lifestyle, the pressure will just come back.

Read: Acupuncture an Effective Migraine Treatment

Before you begin the acupuncture treatment, you need to meet with the acupuncturist to discuss your current lifestyle, including problems (mental, emotional, and physical), desires, and plans for the future. Before the acupuncturist begins the treatment, he or she will check your body for weight gaining symptoms. Some areas that will be investigated are your stomach energy, your tongue, and discolored skin; these problems might help your acupuncturist determine why you are having weight struggles.

Most of the acupuncture points that will be treated are at various locations on the ear. Several other aspects are essential for weight loss treatments as well.

• The mouth for impulsive eating
• The stomach for those who eat after they are full
• The lung for chocolate lovers
• The endocrine for those who retain water
• The thyroid for those with slower metabolisms

Typically, the acupuncturist will choose only two points during one treatment.  The needles are kept on the ends for at least thirty minutes (and sometimes longer). After the acupuncturist removes the needles, he or she will apply adhesive ear tags to those same points. These are intended to help the patient between treatments. When the patient gets a desire to snack or eat when they are full, he or she can use a few fingers to put pressure on those spots for about twenty seconds. By putting pressure on those points, a small release of endorphins will help the patient resist those urges.

The number of treatments necessary is entirely up to the person receiving them. At a follow-up meeting with the acupuncturist, a decision can be reached regarding future needs. If the patient feels the urge to overeat is under control after the first treatment, then one or two more will probably suffice.

While it may seem that acupuncture can work weight loss miracles, it won’t do much good if specific lifestyle changes don’t accompany the process. Exercise and a nutritious diet are vital ingredients to keeping the weight off and staying healthy.