Most people have heard of acupuncture, but may not completely understand it. This healing art, which originated in China over 2000 years ago, is used by millions of people in Asia to treat all kinds of ailments. Practitioners of acupuncture believe that the body has a network of energy channels, and when the flow of energy (called “qi”) is brought into balance, all types of health problems can be cured.
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There are several types of acupuncture for weight loss. The traditional Chinese method targets the spleen and liver to restore balance to various hormones. Two such hormones are leptin, which effects appetite, and Insulin, which regulates fat storage and metabolism.
Another type of acupuncture for weight loss, which originated in Korea, utilizes points on the ear. This treatment, called “auricular acupuncture,” has been gaining popularity in recent years. According to Korean acupuncture theories, the ear represents all the parts of the body; therefore, the points that effect metabolism and hunger are located there. The treatment involves inserting needles at those points, where they remain for the duration of the session. As a result, patients report a significant decrease in appetite.
Although acupuncture may seem esoteric and inconsistent with the theories of western medicine, laboratory research supports its effectiveness. According to studies, subjects who received acupuncture lost more weight than the ones who didn’t. Also, subjects who received genuine treatments lost more weight than ones who received placebo, or “sham,” treatments. Aside from the scientific studies, there are many experts in western medicine that advocate acupuncture. In fact, there are over 3500 medical doctors in America that administer acupuncture to their