Acupuncture for Weight Loss
I am often asked if acupuncture can help with weight loss. There are many studies that suggest that it can. But the first thing I tell my patients who are interested in using acupuncture for weight loss, is that it is not a substitute for lifestyle changes. To lose weight you have to eat less and move more!
How does acupuncture help a weight loss program? There are some immediate benefits. First, if you find yourself eating to relieve stress, acupuncture is wonderful to promote a sense of deep relaxation in the body. Secondly, acupuncture can help to curb the appetite. There is actually a point on the ear called the Appetite Control Point (Hunger Point). When this point is needled along with two or three other auricular points (Ear Shenmen, Point Zero and the Tranquility point) cravings for carbohydrates are reduced and the appetite is suppressed.
But acupuncture can also treat digestive disorders such as nausea, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. It is commonly used to treat asthma and sinus problems. Acupuncture is very powerful to treat gynecological problems including PMS, menopausal symptoms, endometriosis and even infertility.