You wouldn’t think your ears have much to do with your waistline, but the ears are actually the window to weight loss. Have you tried everything under the sun to lose weight, especially around the belly, and still aren’t seeing results? It might be time to try acupuncture for weight loss.
Does Acupuncture for weight loss work?
It may seem unconventional, but acupuncture can be the extra push your body needs to shed those lingering pounds.
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin, sterile needles along specific points on the body. This treatment moves chi or energy flow throughout the body and is identified as an effective weight loss treatment.
Has it been proven to work?
Research shows that acupuncture can help boost weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and light exercise. A clinical trial on acupuncture for the treatment of overweight people found that treating all 5 ear points and only the Hunger point, resulted in 6.1% and 5.7% reduction in BMI.
Losing weight can be difficult because of several influences including, stress, lack of sleep, poor diet and digestion. All of these factors are known to improve with acupuncture, so it makes sense that acupuncture can impact weight loss.
Many people report decreases in appetite, less stress and more energy after multiple acupuncture treatments. In combination with healthy habits, acupuncture can be an effective tool to help you to lose the weight you’ve been struggling with.
How does Acupuncture for weight loss work?
Ear acupuncture targets specific points related to stress, appetite, digestion and most importantly, metabolism which promotes body fat consumption. Acupuncture helps move Qi or energy flow through the body to relieve any swelling or pain.
Acupuncture affects the neuroendocrine system, which is the interaction between the nervous system and endocrine system, responsible for regulating hormones.
The acupuncture treatments help block harmful neurochemicals and restore the balance of hormones. This allows for the release of those feel-good hormones called endorphins, that reduce stress and manage appetite. It also stimulates the thyroid to improve metabolism, relaxes the central nervous system, reduces anxiety and cravings while also regulating bowels.
Does it work long term?
One of the most difficult parts of losing weight is keeping it off.
Acupuncture for weight loss isn’t a one-time solution, but rather a tool to help regulate and maintain a healthy weight.
One woman who used acupuncture for weight loss found the treatment to be helpful, but to remember it’s not an overnight solution. It will take many sessions of acupuncture to get the results you may be looking for. Everyone is different and your acupuncturist will work with you to come up with an appropriate treatment plan for YOU and your specific goals.
In research studies on acupuncture and prediabetes, acupuncture was found to reduce insulin and leptin resistance. These hormones are appetite-regulating hormones which can influence long term weight loss.
Do you need to do anything else to see results?
Acupuncture doesn’t cause weight-loss alone, but paired with a healthy diet and frequent exercise, it can help you shed extra weight.
It was stated on Readers Digest that women receiving ear acupuncture every week with a reduced calorie diet and regular exercise reported a decrease in appetites. They also lost 7 pounds more than those who only changed their diet and exercised. Read the article here!
Another study by Medical Acupuncture involving 20 women between 22 and 42 years of age were treated with ear acupuncture combined with a 2,000 calorie diet and a daily 15-minute walk. Half of the participants receiving 15-minute weekly ear acupuncture treatments lost an average of 10 pounds and report a decrease in appetite. Those who did not receive acupuncture lost an average of 3 pounds which demonstrates how acupuncture may help to accelerate weight loss.
How often do you need treatment ?
Although you may feel differently emotionally or physically after the first treatment, it is recommended that you make weekly appointments for 6 to 8 weeks in order to get significant results. In research studies, weight loss was most significant after 6 weeks of treatments.
At Artkarma, we believe using acupuncture weekly over time is an effective way to maintain wellness. You might even consider Acupuncture to be similar to exercise for a healthy body or counselling/therapy for a healthy mind.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
It is understandable if you still don’t feel comfortable with the idea of your ear being pricked with thin needles.
If you’re still hesitant, but want to receive all the benefits of acupuncture for weight loss, you may want to try acupressure.
Acupressure is the method of applying pressure to meridian points, in this case, the ear, in order to expel heat and moisture, creating circulation and contributing to weight loss.
Acupressure can help to relieve stress and tension, improve digestion and increase circulation, among other benefits.
The most effective acupressure point for weight loss is the Ear-gate point which helps to control appetite.
To find this point, place a finger against the jaw and find the point which has the most movement when the jaw is opened and closed. Apply pressure to this point for about one minute. This is a great way to relieve pressure in the jaw and ears, help manage stress and anxiety and it can be done almost anywhere.
If you’d like to learn more about acupressure, check out the acupressure blog on our page.
Also, feel free to send me an email at info@artkarma.ca if you have more questions or click on the button below to make an appointment.
Have you tried acupressure or acupuncture for weight loss? If not, make an appointment with Milena today and don’t forget to follow artkarma on Instagram and Facebook!
