When you think of acupuncture, you probably don't think of weight loss. But the ancient practice can actually be a great way to shed pounds. Acupuncture uses needles to stimulate energy points on your body to increase your circulation, relieve pain, and relax your muscles — all things that help you lose weight.
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat various medical conditions including pain relief and fertility issues. It's also used in veterinary medicine as well as in alternative medicine practices like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, acupuncture is believed to restore balance within the body by stimulating certain meridians (or channels) — called "channels" in TCM — using fine needles inserted into specific points on or under the skin. While there's no scientific evidence that supports this belief, many people do report feeling better after receiving acupuncture treatments.
How does acupuncture work?
The exact mechanism by which acupuncture works isn't known, but studies suggest it may trigger an endorphin release in the brain that mimics opioid drugs such as morphine and heroin. Endorphins are hormones that block pain signals from being sent from one part of the brain to another; they also have other effects on your mood and body.
Acupuncture can help you lose weight. The ancient Chinese practice is thousands of years old, and is still used today to treat a wide range of conditions from pain relief to fertility issues.
In recent years, it's become popular for its ability to help people lose weight — and the science backs it up.
A study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that acupuncture increased weight loss by an average of 4.4 pounds after six weeks and 9.6 pounds after 12 weeks compared with no acupuncture treatment.
The researchers noted that this was likely due to the fact that acupuncture helps reduce inflammation in the body, which can lead to an increase in metabolism and therefore burn more calories overall.
Acupuncture also increases your levels of serotonin, a hormone that makes us feel happy and relaxed, which can improve moods and reduce cravings for unhealthy foods like sweets or salty snacks.
And while many people are skeptical about acupuncture at first because they think it involves needles (it doesn't), there's actually no evidence that acupuncture causes any pain or discomfort during treatment.
If you are in the Renton area and would like to try a relaxing alternative to conventional weight loss treatment, look no further than Korea Acupuncture Clinic. Our Dr. Kim is happy to help you!