Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine have become increasingly popular for weight loss. This natural approach not only aids in shedding excess weight but also improves overall bodily functions, especially in individuals with hormonal imbalances or other underlying health issues. Many obese individuals tend to retain excess fluids due to hormonal imbalances, suffer from joint pain due to excess weight, or overeat due to stress. Acupuncture can be particularly beneficial in these cases.
Treatment Focus:
Regulating Hormonal Balance: Acupuncture helps in balancing hormones and eliminating excess fluid in the body.
Controlling Appetite and Enhancing Bowel Movements: Acupuncture can help reduce appetite and increase bowel motility, thereby aiding in weight management.
Relieving Stress: Acupuncture can alleviate stress, which often leads to overeating habits.
Mechanism of Acupuncture in Weight Loss:
Studies suggest that acupuncture can effectively suppress appetite and aid in weight loss. Regular stimulation of specific ear points is found to be effective in appetite suppression.
Acupuncture primarily works by regulating the satiety center in the ventromedial nucleus (VMH) of the hypothalamus and the feeding center in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Ear acupuncture influences the feeling of fullness and food storage rather than reducing appetite directly.
In primary obesity, there is often a decrease in the function of the sympathetic-adrenal system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Acupuncture not only impacts body weight but also enhances the function of these systems.
Acupuncture not only treats obesity and hyperlipidemia but also combats pathogenic factors leading to cardiovascular diseases, thus preventing and treating cardiovascular complications in obese patients.
Acupuncture improves water and salt metabolism in obese patients through neurohumoral regulation.
Approach to Weight Loss:
Gradual and phased weight loss is recommended. For instance, if the goal is to lose more than 10 kg, it should be done in stages, initially targeting a 5 kg loss, which is usually achievable in 10-20 days. Once this weight stabilizes for 1-2 months, the next phase of treatment can begin to lose another 5 kg, and so on. This gradual approach ensures lasting effects and prevents rapid weight regain.
Acupuncture offers a holistic approach to weight loss, addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of obesity, making it a comprehensive and beneficial treatment option.