Discover How Acupuncture Can Naturally Promote Weight Loss
Excessive weight gain and the inability to lose weight can be complex conditions, not only the result of “eating too much” or “not exercising enough”. Underlying imbalances, such as insulin resistance, hormone imbalances, chronic digestive problems, stress, sleep deprivation, and other hidden factors are often at play and can make losing weight feel impossible.
Left untreated, carrying excess fat and its underlying imbalances can cause system wide problems with circulation, metabolism, immunity and other important vital functions. Lack of proper treatment also increases the risk of developing various serious long-term health problems, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, high cholesterol, cancer, allergies, autoimmune disease, osteoarthritis, depression, and many others.
Do you know acupuncture offers a holistic approach to regulating metabolism and digestion, losing excess body fat, and promoting health?
Acupuncture is a time-tested method used to balance the body’s digestive and metabolic function, improve gut health, and trim excessive weight. It helps balance underlying dysfunction between various organ and body systems to aid the regulation of hormones, appetite, and digestion, reduce cravings, and improve elimination of waste from the body. It also provides natural relief from fatigue, pain, poor sleep, excessive sweating, stress, depression, and other common issues associated with being overweight or obese.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Weight Loss
How Acupuncture Treatment Works for Weight Loss
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to help promote healing, improve energy, and strengthen resistance to disease. It is an ancient Chinese medical practice that involves the insertion of ultra-thin therapeutic needles into specific points on the body to restore the flow and balance of Qi 气 (life-force energy).
Free-flowing and balanced Qi activates a person’s own self-healing mechanism to assist with responding and adapting to any number of stressors and health issues that challenge homeostasis.
In the practice of acupuncture, Xie Qi 邪气 (accumulated toxins) causes an imbalance within the functioning of organs and body systems, namely the Liver, Spleen, Kidneys and Large Intestines. Xie Qi typically depletes Yuan Qi 元气 (constitutional strength) and impairs the strength and balance of Gu Qi 谷气 (digestion, nutrient absorption) and Zheng Qi 中气 (hormonal balance & immunity).
Acupuncture for weight loss works by stimulating specific points on the body to help regulate the flow of Qi to these organs and body systems, and help balance their functions and interactions, alleviate inflammation, pain, and stress, improve metabolism and energy, reduce cravings, promote digestive health, and encourage weight loss through the elimination of waste.
While not well understood scientifically, some research suggests acupuncture activates the body’s natural healing processes by stimulating its anti-inflammatory mechanism that helps ease pain and stress, boost immune function, and promote self-healing. Activating this mechanism also appears to help reduce the severity of symptoms associated with excessive weight and obesity, such as stress, poor sleep, fatigue and muscle and joint pain.
Other research points to acupuncture stimulating the release of endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that function as natural painkillers, mood enhancers, and immune regulators.
Some other studies suggests acupuncture can help modulate hormones such as insulin, leptin, and ghrelin, and regulate glucose and lipid metabolism, to improve digestion, regulate fat storage, control appetite and cravings, and boost energy. Additionally, acupuncture has been found to enhance and balance the secretion of digestive enzymes, regulate the absorption of nutrients, improve gastric motility, and promote the healthy elimination of waste.
Key Acupuncture Points for Weight Loss
- Stomach 36 (Zu San Li 足三里): Boosts digestive metabolism, reduces cravings, and alleviates constipation.
- Stomach 25 (Tian Shu 天樞): Regulates intestinal function, alleviates constipation.
- Spleen 6 (San Yin Jiao 三陰交): Regulates digestion and reduces food cravings.
- Liver 3 (Tai Chong 太沖): Relieves abdominal fullness, pain, constipation, balances emotions and reduces stress-related eating.
- Liver 13 (Zhang Men 章門: Alleviates bloating, constipation, abdominal distention, fullness and pain, regulates appetite, and promotes healthy digestion.
- Large Intestine 4 (He Gu 合谷): Improves digestive motility relieves abdominal discomfort.
- CV 12 (Zhong Wan 中脘): Relieves bloating and indigestion, reduces cravings, and promotes satiety.
- GV 26 (Ren Zhong 人中): Reduces cravings and appetite and promote better digestion and elimination.
Acupuncture Treatment for Weight Loss Uses Herbal Medicine Formulas
Acupuncture treatment for weight loss also includes the use of medicinal Chinese herbs. Chinese herbal medicine is well known for its excellent ability to help maintain healthy gut flora balance, repair damaged intestinal mucosal barriers, and regulate and optimize digestive and metabolic function to help lose excessive fat, maintain a healthy weight, and improve digestion and overall health.
Chinese herbs offer relief of various symptoms of poor digestive health and obesity, including indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, poor appetite, gas, nausea, bloating, excess weight gain, acid regurgitation, and stomach ulcers.
Common Herbs Used in Acupuncture for Weight Loss
- Astragalus (Huang Qi/ Radix Astragali Membranaceus): Decreases water retention, promotes digestion, and lowers blood sugar.
- Hawthorn Berry (Shan Zha / Fructus Crateigi): Dissolves food stagnation, promotes digestion, eases stomach and abdominal fullness and distention.
- Hoelen (Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocoa): Improves digestion, decreases water retention, boosts energy, and promotes digestion.
- Dried Citrus Peel (Chen Pi / Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae): Aids in the digestion of fatty and greasy foods, reduces bloating and nausea, and alleviates abdominal distention, fullness and pain.
- Ginger (Sheng Jiang/ Zingiberis Officinalis): Soothes the stomach, stimulates digestion, and alleviates nausea, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort
- Mentha Peppermint (Bo He/ Herba Mentha Haplocalyx): Promotes digestion, and relieves gas, bloating, nausea and stomach cramps.
- Licorice Root (Gan Cao / Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis): Inhibits gastric acid secretion, protects the digestive mucous membranes, and enhances overall digestive function.
Acupuncture Treatment for Weight Loss Uses Nutrition Therapy
Acupuncture for weight loss also uses dietary modification and nutrition as part of treatment. Nutrition therapy in acupuncture promotes eating a diet consisting mainly of fresh plant-based foods that are the most vital and free from chemicals, preservatives, and over-processing, in combination with the use of herbs and other nutritional supplements as needed. Studies have shown that eating a high-fiber, nutrient-rich diet consisting of more whole, plant-based foods helps eliminate excess waste from the body and turn off cravings for unhealthy foods, while maintaining optimal metabolic and digestive function, and promoting weight loss.
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Your First Acupuncture Treatment for Weight Loss
FAQs
Unfortunately, there is no straight easy answer. Insurance coverage for acupuncture varies widely among insurance companies both statewide and nationally, with plans requiring certain criteria to be met before coverage is applied. This criteria is not standardized, and insurance companies all make their own policies, including exclusions, limitations and restrictions, regarding acupuncture coverage.
As a result, even when insurance companies advertise they offer acupuncture coverage, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will actually pay for all of it, or even some of it. Most people with an acupuncture-friendly health insurance plan that want to try to use it to pay for acupuncture should expect to accrue at least some out-of-pocket costs, anywhere from co-pays and deductibles to paying for uncovered procedures and products such as herbal medicine and nutritional supplements. It is also not uncommon for acupuncture-related claims to be entirely denied by insurance companies, leaving insured patients responsible for paying the total amount billed.
Fortunately, our office is well-versed on these details to help you understand how and when it is possible to use your insurance to help pay for acupuncture. For more information, or to begin the verification process and request prior authorization for using your PPO insurance with our office, please send us a message.
No, you do not need a referral to receive acupuncture treatment. California acupuncturists are primary care providers and can provide you treatment independently without referral. Some people may seek a doctor referral for acupuncture to try and use their insurance to cover expenses or for help finding a practitioner, but this is not required.
Acupuncture itself is very safe in the hands of a competent practitioner. It generally presents little to no side effects and rarely makes a condition worse. If these do occur it’s usually indicative of the healing process and any ill effects disappear within days of treatment.
However acupuncture is not for everyone, and there are times when precautions must be made. For example, people who are not eligible for acupuncture include those with hemophilia or contagious skin diseases. On the other hand, people on blood-thinning medication, or who tend to bruise easily, or who are pregnant, can receive acupuncture but should disclose their medical history to their acupuncturist prior to treatment so that certain precautions are made.
Where severe danger exists is in the inappropriate application of acupuncture by poorly trained and unskilled non-acupuncture therapists and physicians, many which do not receive the same instruction and training as licensed acupuncturists. To ensure safety when receiving acupuncture, it is highly recommended to use a practitioner who has received proper education and schooling in acupuncture, and is certified and licensed to practice acupuncture by an official governing acupuncture board, agency, or organization.
In general, acupuncture will not minimize any treatment or medication you have used or will use. Recent studies suggest acupuncture may actually enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of other treatments and reduce some of their adverse reactions.
However because acupuncture and some herbal and nutritional supplements prescribed by acupuncturists can sometimes diminish or potentiate the effects of other treatments, it is advisable that you disclose all of your medical history to your acupuncturist, especially if you’re taking medication or are undergoing other types of treatment, or have recently undergone other treatments, so that any precautions can be made prior to treatment. For more information, send us a message.
Depending on the type of service, total visit time is between 60-90 minutes, with 20-75 minute acupuncture treatment time.
Everyone responds to acupuncture differently but in general the approach we use is so gentle and the acupuncture needles we use are so thin that most people won’t even be aware when the needles are inserted. If they feel anything at all, it may be a slight pinch at the site of needle insertion followed by a brief dull ache that dissipates within seconds. Other common sensations felt during treatment include slight tingling, subtle muscle twitching and spasms, heaviness, extreme relaxation, and warmth in the hands and feet.
Most adults looking for a natural approach to health and overall wellness are candidates for acupuncture. But if you have a specific health condition and you’re not sure if acupuncture is right for you, the best way to find out is to request an appointment for an evaluation and consult.
