People who are troubled by weight loss may seek every possible way, from essential oil massage to special diets, you may have heard of acupuncture for weight loss, the question is, is it reliable?
Experts say that the mechanism of acupuncture weight loss is mainly to adjust the metabolic function and endocrine function of the human body.
Acupuncture weight loss is more effective for young and middle-aged obese people aged 20 to 50. Because at this age, the human body is more mature, and various functions are more sound, through acupuncture treatment, it is easier to adjust the body’s various metabolic functions, promote fat decomposition, to achieve the effect of weight loss and fat reduction.
What is acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that involves the insertion of fine needles into the body at acupuncture points.
It can be associated with the application of heat, pressure or light lasers to these same points. Acupuncture is commonly used for pain relief, although it is also used for a wide range of other conditions. Clinical practice varies from country to country. There is a wide spectrum of acupuncture approaches, involving different philosophies.
The method used in TCM appears to be the most widely adopted in the United States. It is rarely used alone, but rather in conjunction with other forms of treatment. The theory and practice of TCM are not based on scientific knowledge, and acupuncture has been described as a type of pseudoscience.
Read more: Acupuncture: How does it work?
The number of visits each week might taper off as the program progresses. The number of visits recommended will also vary from one acupuncture practitioner to another.
How acupuncture can help with weight loss
First of all, acupuncture for weight loss in Chinese medicine has not been found to have significant side effects for the time being.
Acupuncture weight loss is mainly through the stimulation of the body’s acupuncture points, thus promoting metabolism and regulating the body’s function to achieve effective weight loss.
This is just like when you drink a can of cold Coke, your intestines are stimulated and you run to the toilet…
Proponents of acupuncture for weight loss believe that it is safe because there are no drugs involved.
Through pure physical stimulation, even if the weight loss is not as effective, at the very least it is safe.
In addition to weight loss, acupuncture is also useful for menstrual disorders, insomnia, poor gastrointestinal health and infertility.
Also read: Acupuncture vs. dry needling: how to choose?
One study compared the effectiveness of auricular (ear) acupuncture to body acupuncture in obese women and found that those who received auricular acupuncture lost more weight—approximately 8 pounds more—than those who received acupuncture on other parts of the body.
Yasemin C, Turan S, Kosan Z.
The process of acupuncture for weight loss
According to the scientific literature, the steps of acupuncture for weight loss may include:
- Selecting the most suitable acupuncture point according to the clinical characteristics of the patient.
- Using an auricular probe or probe needle to find the best sensitive point in the auricular area, then aiming the needle at the sensitive point, pressing it in accurately, fixing it firmly, and gently rubbing and pressing until there is a clear sense of soreness, numbness, swelling and heavy gaining of Qi.
- The entire operation should be strictly disinfected, and all needles and instruments should be soaked in 75% alcohol or disinfectant solution for backup to prevent infection or contamination.
- Massage should be carried out half an hour before meals, between meals, in the morning and before going to bed at night, 15 to 30 times per meal, massage should be gentle and even in force.
- Treatment period with appropriate outdoor activities, such as walking, jogging, etc. will make the effect of weight loss more obvious.
What age is most suitable?
According to Chinese medicine, people between the ages of 20 and 50 are more suitable for using acupuncture to lose weight.
Before the age of 20, the body’s growth and development is not yet completely stable, so the effect of acupuncture for weight loss before the age of 20 is not necessarily ideal.
People over the age of 50, as the body’s functions have stabilized and become weaker, the metabolic capacity is also decreasing. Weight loss treatment needs to be accompanied by various activities and exercises, which is difficult to do for people over 50 years old, so the weight loss effect of this part of the population is also poor.
Risks and Side Effects
Some of the more common side effects of acupuncture for weight loss are:
Contracting infectious diseases
Repeated use of needles may lead to infectious disease problems.
Damage to internal organs
Damage to internal organs such as the heart, lungs and liver can occur due to improper needling. In addition, silver needles inserted into human acupuncture points may touch the capillaries, so if the needles are not sufficiently sterilized by high temperature and pressure during repeated use, it is easy to spread blood-based and hepatitis B diseases to each other.
Professionalism
Acupuncture for weight loss requires a very high level of professionalism. If you are ready to look for acupuncture near you, be sure to check if their professional qualifications are vetted.
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http://health.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0614/c21471-28442820.html
