How Acupuncture Helps Weight Loss

If you’re trying to achieve your target weight, then you’re probably already watching your diet and working out regularly. But have you considered trying the traditional Chinese art of Acupuncture to lose weight?

Acupuncture is one of the many popular forms of treatment included under Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In Australia acupuncture has become an important alternative medicine and has proven effective in helping treat multiple conditions. It’s even offered in some hospitals to help emergency room patients manage their pain or to help cancer patients manage their nausea.

How does acupuncture work for weight loss?

Acupuncture works on the principle that your life energy (also known as Qi) follows certain pathways or channels in the human body. When your pathways are open and the energy flows freely, one remains healthy. However, if your pathways become blocked they your life energy begins to clog up, abit like when you step on a garden hose. And like the hose, your energy becomes clogged making it impossible for your energy to properly flow throughout your body. This creates imbalances within your body which in turn creates health problems.

During an acupuncture treatment, fine needles are inserted into your skin at specific trigger points to unblock and release this flow of energy. Acupuncture has been found to improve the way the body releases hormones and regulates digestion and metabolism. But studies have shown how to use acupuncture to lose weight.

There are many other benefits of using acupuncture. Here are a few:

Acupuncture will help decrease your cravings

For many people on their weight loss journey, the meal restrictions are way harder than the workout routine. Acupuncture can help affect these cravings and been has proven helpful in the past by controlling the urges in smokers and heroin addicts. With reduced cravings, you are less likely to eat on impulse, to binge eat, or to deviate from your meal plan. A little extra help with your diet will go a long way to help you reach your target weight.

Acupuncture can help reduce your workout pains

The Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) found that acupuncture is effective in over 100 different conditions including chronic lower back pain, tension headaches, and repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Many of these complaints affect your exercise schedule and the intensity at which you can work out. Choosing acupuncture to help remove these obstacles will also help you to work in both a faster and healthier manner.

Acupuncture reduces stress

Stress leads to heightened cortisol levels in your body and can be a large contributor to weight gain. The cortisol levels make us hungrier, which is why we eat more when we’re anxious. When combined with exercise, acupuncture will help keep both your stress levels low and your appetite manageable.  

Acupuncture gives you an energy boost

Traditional Chinese Medicine is also effective for chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as for general tiredness and low energy. While fatigue is most often caused by overwork, it could also be because of illnesses, bad eating habits, or mental conditions. When you receive acupuncture for better energy, you’ll be evaluated and treated for all these causes. So, using acupuncture to improve your health will also enhance your energy levels too. Meaning you can both exercise and recover far faster than normal.

Acupuncture helps you sleep better

Acupuncture can also help recipients sleep better by easing your anxiety and creating a relaxing mood. When you sleep better, you are more likely to remain on track with your workout regimen.

How to incorporate acupuncture for weight loss into your fitness regimen

When using alternative medicines like acupuncture, best remember that these should only ever be secondary to your main efforts. That means that you can’t rely on only massages or only acupuncture to reach your target weight. The most effective way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you eat. For this you have to stick to a meal plan, make healthier, and commit to a regular exercise regimen.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are three easy ways to start:

1. Talk to a nutritionist

A nutritionist will help you develop a meal plan that will help you lose weight and remain healthy.

2. Join a group fitness class

If you’re just starting out on an exercise plan, joining a group fitness class will help motivate you, keep you disciplined, and make sure you’re doing the right workout to meet your goals.

3. Sign up for a personal trainer

If you’ve already been exercising and are not seeing results or if you want to drop those kilos faster, a personal trainer will give you a customized fitness plan and make sure you stick to it.

Where to start?

If you want to try acupuncture to help you lose weight, you should be ready to commit to the full course. Your therapist will recommend a series of treatments over a few weeks for the best results and you should be able to follow through.

Aussie acupuncturists are held to strict professional standards and must clear all academic requirements, especially when accredited by the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) so make sure you choose a licensed practitioner for your treatment of acupuncture to lose weight. If you’re thinking of trying acupuncture for weight loss, choose Avaana to help you, and enjoy up to %15 off your first acupuncture booking.