Acupuncture as an aid to weight loss
Many people find that sticking to a reduced calorie diet will help them lose weight, but maintaining long term weight loss is incredibly difficult for most people to achieve. Often diets produce a reduction in weight, only to be followed by a gain in weight plus some additional pounds.
Acupuncture is a natural way of supporting other traditional weight loss efforts such as diet and exercise. Studies show that people lose more weight when they have acupuncture in addition to dieting alone. The benefits of acupuncture for weight loss are that it helps to reduce body weight as well as controlling appetite, without harmful side effects or chance of addiction. It helps to improve metabolism whilst also helping in times of stress.
As with other acupuncture treatments, acupuncture for weight loss is tailored to the individual patient. With points being chosen for overall wellbeing, stimulation of metabolism, reduction of cravings and suppression of appetite, and promoting relaxation of the nervous system.
The acupuncture for weight loss treatment would usually include traditional body points plus auricular acupuncture and ear tacks or pellets may be applied for the patient to massage between acupuncture sessions to help with appetite control. Where necessary nutritional counselling and lifestyle changes can also be recommended.
Generally the acupuncture would need to be repeated on a regular basis. Perhaps once or twice a week over a period of eight to ten weeks or until the desired weight is achieved.
Research
Stimulation of auricular acupuncture points in weight loss, see abstract of research article here
The treatment of obesity by acupuncture, see abstract of research here