Acupuncture for Weight Loss: Myths and Truths

If you have tried everything to control your weight, you may be missing out on just the thing to help the pounds fall away—and stay off. Diet and exercise are certainly helpful tools to reach your weight goals, but if you are open to some alte
ative treatments acupuncture may be the boost you need. Acupuncture has helped many people get control of their weight, but there are a number of myths in circulation that keep people from trying it or encourage false perceptions about how it works. Here we will dispel a number of such myths and hopefully convince you to give acupuncture a try! Who knows, maybe it will work for you!

1. Acupuncture is extremely painful.

This is not true at all. If you speak to someone who has tried acupuncture, some will say that all they felt was a tiny prick while others felt nothing at all. Fundamentally, there is no tissue damage when the needle (which is very fine) enters the skin. Some worst case scenarios might include some trace bruising, but this is very rare.

2. You don’t have to do anything else to lose weight when you are getting Acupuncture.

This is not true. Acupuncture can only be effective if you are also actively monitoring your diet as well as exercising—it can be the extra push that you and your body need. It is also helpful in centering you so you can keep the weight off. Making a connection with an Acupuncturist can be the guidance you need for nutrition and exercise advice as well.

3. Acupuncture is not backed by any scientific research.

Acupuncture is known to increase your body’s release of endorphins, the chemical it uses to control pain and make us feel calm and satisfied. A 2003 study published by The journal of Medical Acupuncture founds that participants using acupuncture lost three times more weight than the control group that did not. Additionally, the University of Adelaide in Australia conducted a study in 1998 that showed 95 percent of their participants receiving electro-stimulation on acupuncture points reported some appetite suppression.

4. Medical doctors do not believe in Acupuncture.

This is not true, as many medical doctors believe that supplementing western medicine with some alte
ative treatments can help patients of all kinds, with all kinds of problems. Some doctors even have acupuncturists that they routinely recommend to their patients.
Different things work for different people, and for some, acupuncture provides the extra energy your body needs to get to a healthy weight. Keep your options open by knowing the facts about whatever you consider—and talk to a licensed acupuncturist if you have questions about what acupuncture can do for you.