Losing weight can be both elusive and frustrating. Maybe you’ve gone on and off dozens of diets that haven’t worked or tried fasts that have left you hungry and weak.
Maybe you’ve done a cleanse or detox where the only thing you lost was money. Or tried that supplement that everyone promised would melt away the pounds. Except it didn’t. You still weigh the same…or more.
If this sounds familiar, it may be time to think about acupuncture, and researchers agree. Scientists at West Chester University and the University of Pennsylvania conducted an analysis of studies on the role of acupuncture in weight loss.
They concluded that acupuncture can be a useful adjunct for weight management. What this means is that while it’s not a silver bullet, acupuncture may be the missing ingredient to success when used with a healthy weight loss plan.
Anyone who has tried to lose weight agrees that regulating food intake is not only physically difficult, but it’s also emotionally fraught. One of the reasons acupuncture is effective is that it changes your brain chemistry to decrease stress and improve your mood. In addition, acupuncture modifies hormones that may help with weight loss–it increases ghrelin that controls hunger and decreases leptin that regulates fat storage and metabolism.
Acupuncture has long been used in treating all kinds of addictions, from smoking to chemical abuse to food addictions. For this reason, a few sessions with an acupuncturist can help with weight loss by regulating hunger and decreasing the frequency and intensity of your food cravings.
In addition, acupuncture improves your digestion and how well nutrients are used by your body. Many acupuncturists also combine Chinese food therapy into their treatment plan for you, which is all about choosing the right foods for your unique needs.
The bottom line is that a sensible weight loss plan combined with acupuncture may produce the success that’s been eluding you. If you want to find out if acupuncture can help you, contact us today to set up a Free Consultation to determine if acupuncture is right for you.
