How Traditional Chinese Medicine can help on your weight loss journey

When acupuncture is combined with traditional methods of weight loss, patients lose more weight. 

Being overweight has a major effect on one’s quality of life and can be a contributing factor to diseases such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and brain haemorrhage.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the focus is on the endocrine system and kidneys, which are addressed to treat water retention and stimulate nerve and hormonal balance. We will also look at the spleen and thyroid gland to manage sugar levels and balance hormones and the adrenal and ovary glands are included to treat weight gain due to menopause or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Acupuncture treatment varies according to the extent to which each pattern of disharmony is involved.

Below are the four types of obesities:

1. Spleen deficiency and excessive phlegm due to dampness

Symptoms: Lethargy, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitation, loose stool, pale and enlarged tongue, deep and thready pulse.

Treatment: Tonify the spleen system and expel dampness and phlegm.

2. Dry heat in the spleen system and stomach

Symptoms: Hungry feeling, overeating and drinking, thirst, dry tongue, dizziness, tightness in the chest, constipation, red tongue, thin and yellow coating, taut and thready pulse.

Treatment: Clean the stomach, cool the blood and moisten the large intestine.

3. Qi and blood stagnation

Symptoms: Obesity, easily becomes irritable, tightness in the chest, ache in ribs, headache, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, constipation, irregular periods, dark tongue with purple patches. Thin yellow coating on the tongue and slippery pulse.

Treatment: Regulate Qi and promote circulation.

4. Deficiency of spleen and kidney yang

Symptoms: General puffiness, weakness and lethargy, loose stools, backache, cold limbs, dizziness and loss of hair, pale and enlarged tongue with white and greasy coating, deep, thready and forceless pulse.

Treatment: Warm the kidney yang and tonify the spleen Qi.

How weight loss acupuncture works

At your first consultation, we will take a general health history and take time to understand your weight loss goals. We will go through a consultative approach to better identify the root of the problem (e.g., slow metabolism, thyroid issues, binge eating) to determine the most effective treatment plan for you.

Acupuncture can influence two hormones that aid in weight loss:

• Ghrelin: controls appetite and meal stimulation
• Leptin: regulates fat storage and metabolism

By stimulating these two hormones, acupuncture can curb your cravings and appetite, improve digestion, and boost your metabolism. It can help suppress the appetite and regulate the digestive system.

Generally, we will focus on acupressure in the ear. Common points are: Qu Chi, He Gu, Xue Hai, San Yin Jiao, Bai Hui. If the weight lies mostly on the stomach, we will add Tian Shu, Shui Dao, Ji Men. If the weight is on the thighs, add Feng Shi, Huan Tiao, If the weight is on the back, add: Shen Shu.

Alongside this, we may recommend some ready-to-use herbal products that are very effective in reducing weight, such as Feiyan Health Tea (which is named after an ancient Chinese beauty who discovered this health tea), Dieter drink (very popular in the USA) or Keep Fit capsules (Shou Fu Jiang Zhi Wan).

Optimising your health to achieve weight loss

Apart from the above treatments, it is best to stick to a good diet. We will work with you to customise an eating plan that is low in fatty foods such as chocolate, cheese, and meats and encourage you to eat more vegetables and fruits and engage in exercise and decrease stress in your life.

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