Acupuncture for weight loss...it would be nice if it worked

Due to increasing rates of obesity, it was only a matter of time before acupuncture for weight loss would be linked together.

After all, for thousands of years acupuncture has been used for treating other diseases. Obesity is a relatively new problem.

If you were to lose the extra weight, you would feel better mentally. You would start to look better and feel more energy to help you to participate in the things you had difficulty in doing before the reduction?

There is no one single solution to the problem of being overweight.

Obesity and obesity diseases are recognized as being complex and hard to treat.

It might be worth looking at acupuncture and weight loss as part of a general program consisting of exercise, diet and a supportive lifestyle.

Where is the evidence?

A review of studies published in the International Journal of Obesity, (2005) 29, 1030-1038, said “the weight of the evidence is not convincing to suggest effectiveness.”

Most studies regarding acupuncture and weight loss state that inconclusive results are due to factors such as insufficient control groups, placebo controls and the length of the trials.

This is not unusual for studies performed on alternative medicine. And it’s not unusual considering the number of acupuncture points in the body (over 1,000), and the number in the ear, where the therapy is performed. How can everything be replicated exactly?

However, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting the connection between acupuncture and weight loss.

How does acupuncture for weight loss work?

Sterile ultra-thin needles are gently inserted into acupuncture target points behind the ear. These areas, the theory goes, represents organs involved with the metabolizing of food. Also targeted are the parts of the brain that represent sensations of fullness and cravings.

As a result of the skin invasion, endorphins are released from the brain. Endorphins are thought to decrease cravings and incidents of binge eating. Cortisol, a hormone which can affect metabolism and lead to weight gain, is neutralized by the endorphins.

The result, it is claimed, will be weight loss due to a decreased appetite and the diminishing of cravings.

What is the length of the therapy?

It varies, but sessions of once or twice per week over six to eighth weeks are recommended by some licensed acupuncture practitioners.

Will it work?

Acupuncture for weight loss may break the habit of eating large quantities of food long enough for a new pattern of natural control to emerge. Hopefully, this new habit will become your only way of eating.

And acupuncture could be the one thing to get you started.

Regular nutritional cleansing, regular exercise and a new lifestyle awareness can be added to revitalize the body.

Let’s cleanse the body to clear the mind: The Body-Mind Connection

Your Weight: If you are concerned about your weight, a detox and cleansing program might be the answer.

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