Every year, about 45 million Americans go on a diet — again. In a desperate attempt to shed excess pounds, they spend $3,000-$5,000 on weight loss programs that leave them hungry, sluggish, and still craving the carbs and sweets that contributed to their obesity in the first place.
There must be a better way.
There is — acupuncture.
This traditional Chinese medicine practice that regulates the body’s energy flow, or chi, is well-known for its ability to alleviate pain, accelerate healing, and reduce stress, but it has more applications than most realize.
At Earthy Ruby in Cupertino, California, we understand the depth and breadth of acupuncture’s benefits. Our licensed acupuncturists (LAc) have logged in thousands of hours of master’s level training and clinical experience and maintain their certification through ongoing education. Our team provides acupuncture services for a wide range of physical and mental health conditions, including being overweight or obese.
Acupuncture 101
Acupuncture has been a mainstay in Eastern medicine for more than 2,500 years but is a relatively new practice in the US. By the late 1990s, acupuncturists, physicians, dentists, and other practitioners used the practice widely, and by the early 2000s, nearly 4 million Americans used acupuncture to treat various conditions.
Once Western health care providers began using a broader lens, acupuncture became an acceptable and invaluable practice in the US.
Given the vast array of issues acupuncture addresses, it’s surprisingly simple. Our specialists insert extremely thin needles into specific areas of your body to achieve desired results. The location and number of needles depend on the goal of the treatment. You may feel some minor discomfort, but most people relax and enjoy their acupuncture sessions.
Acupuncture’s primary purpose is to release the flow of your inner energy (chi) and create a balance that, in turn, promotes healing and overall well-being.
Acupuncture for weight loss
When we use acupuncture to assist with weight loss, we insert the needles into your outer ear, which stimulates the hormones responsible for appetite and craving control (ghrelin) and fat storage and metabolism (leptin).
By invigorating these hormones, acupuncture improves your digestion, boosts your metabolism, decreases your appetite, and curbs your cravings for carbs and sugar.
Science backs these claims up. Research shows that outer-ear acupuncture can help you lose more weight than acupuncture on other body parts and can reduce your waist circumference.
Acupuncture also releases endorphins — the “feel good” hormones — in your body, which reduces stress and related binging and emotional-eating tendencies.
If you’re struggling with weight loss, acupuncture may be the medication-free solution to break through the barriers. To learn more, call or click to schedule an appointment with our licensed, experienced acupuncturists.