If you’re like the majority of people, this time of year has you thinking about your health goals — and what you can do to support them! If overall wellness, energy levels, and maintaining a healthy weight are on your goal list, acupuncture can help!
Weight gain and difficulty losing weight is often related to hormones, stress, and/or emotions. Besides physical hunger, people often find themselves seeking out food – typically more refined sugary or processed food – more out of a need for comfort. Because of this, excessive weight gain or difficulty losing weight is often an emotional and/or stress-related issue, not physical one. In the case that it is a physical issue, it is most often related to hormonal imbalances.
The Skinny on Acupuncture Weight Loss
Acupuncture involves the inserting of tiny, hair-thin needles at specific points ion the body. Some acupuncture points can support balanced hormones, including those related to hunger and satiation, as well as those related to stress, mood, energy, and even the impulse to overeat. In these ways, acupuncture has been found to be effective at supporting weight loss.
How Acupuncture Supports Weight Loss
In particular, auricular acupuncture, or ear acupuncture, is helpful in supporting weight loss and weight management efforts.
There are over 200 points on each ear that represent the anatomical parts, organs, and functions of the body. Stimulating these acu-points allows us to access the central nervous system through the cranial nerves on the auricle of the ear. This sends a direct message to the brain that promotes healing and balance.
Auricular acupuncture can involve the stimulation of points with tiny acupuncture needles or ear seeds. The seeds are painless, and do not pierce the skin. Patients typically keep ear seeds on for 5-10 days, and can re-stimulate the points by pressing or massaging the ear through the day. Ear seeds are most often used for weight loss as well as addiction and smoking cessation.
Additionally, when certain points on the ear are stimulated, endorphins are released. Endorphins, known as the body’s natural feel-good hormones, are also referred to as the body’s natural pain relievers. The release of endorphins is also what makes you feel better after an exercise.
Research has found that acupuncture has a positive effect on weight loss. In particular, auricular acupuncture may reduce appetite by suppressing ghrelin production. Ghrelin is referred to as the “hunger hormone” because excess amounts of this hormone increase feelings of hunger. One way that acupuncture may support healthy ghrelin levels is by promoting restful sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in regulating ghrelin levels. Sleep also plays a major role in our leptin levels, the hormone tied to feelings of satiety and fullness.
VIM Acupuncture Vero Beach
If you’re tired of struggling with emotional eating, stress, fad diets, yo-yo weight loss and gain cycles, hormonal issues, or other weight-related obstacles, acupuncture may be the answer you’ve been looking for!