Acupuncture for Weight Loss in Sherwood Park

Lose Weight Naturally With Acupuncture

Acupuncture has long been known as an effective remedy for a host of complaints, from headaches and back pain to nausea and anxiety. What many people don’t know is that there is evidence to support the use of acupuncture for weight loss. When you turn to acupuncture to lose weight, you are choosing a natural form of treatment that has been around for thousands of years. How does acupuncture work for weight loss? All Deep Massage and Wellness Clinic is a trusted provider of acupuncture services in Sherwood Park, AB, and we will answer your questions about acupuncture and weight loss.

Understanding the Link Between Acupuncture and Weight Loss

To understand how weight loss and acupuncture are connected, it helps to have a basic understanding of acupuncture itself. Acupuncture is a practice used in traditional Chinese medicine to help balance the qi, chi, or life force. Looking at it from a modern medical point of view, it is believed that the needles used in acupuncture cause the body to release substances that are thought to inhibit pain signals. Whichever of these fits with your personal philosophy, acupuncture is very effective for a variety of illnesses and ailments, and when done by a trained, experienced professional, it is very safe. The acupuncture points for weight loss are believed to stimulate the metabolism, help the bowels function properly, and curb appetite.

The Science Behind Acupuncture and Weight Management

When it comes to weight loss, acupuncture is often used to balance hormones. While you might not immediately think of hormones as influencing your weight, there are two hormones associated with weight loss, and these hormones can be influenced by acupuncture.

• Ghrelin is the hormone that stimulates appetite. Primarily produced by the stomach, ghrelin is also released in small quantities by the small intestine, pancreas, and brain, and it communicates hunger signals to the brain. It also affects fat storage, carbohydrate metabolism, and blood sugar, among other bodily processes.
• Leptin lets the body know you’re full. Rather than being released by the stomach, leptin is sent from fat tissue. When the body has adequate fuel sources, leptin levels rise to let the brain know you don’t need to consume anything more. The level of leptin in the blood relates directly to how much body fat we have, so leptin to ghrelin rations increase with increasing BMI. When your leptin levels remain high over time, leptin resistance develops, so that your body becomes less sensitive to the hormone and less able to experience feelings of weight loss.

Balancing these two hormones can be helpful in managing weight. Acupuncture works to improve leptin resistance while reducing ghrelin levels. It also helps regulate insulin, which can help with weight loss.

What to Expect During an Acupuncture Session for Weight Loss

Acupuncture is customized for each individual patient, and your practitioner will work with you to create a treatment plan specifically for you. It’s important to determine the cause of your weight gain, in order to determine the best course of action. Acupuncture points for weight loss are those that relate to the upper and lower abdomen, the endocrine system and thyroid, the parasympathetic nervous system, the spleen, and the body’s overall energy. The needles an acupuncture practitioner uses are thin and designed to work without causing any bleeding or pain. Typically, the needles will be left in for 15 to 30 minutes and may be lifted or rotated as part of the technique. For most people, acupuncture treatments are relaxing.

Interestingly, the ear is one part of the body acupuncturists focus on when working towards weight loss. In traditional Chinese medicine, the ear is seen as a microsystem for the body, with points on the ear representing every part of the body. An acupuncture practitioner, then, will use points of the ear coinciding with the mouth and stomach, as well as the mind. In addition to other points on the body, a person undergoing acupuncture treatment for weight loss will usually receive treatment on both ears.

Is Acupuncture for Weight Loss Right for You?

Can acupuncture help with weight loss? For many people, it is a very effective treatment for weight management. It is still important to get regular exercise and eat a nutritious diet, but acupuncture can help augment the results of these practices. To determine whether or not it’s the right option for you, schedule a consultation with the experts at All Deep Massage and Wellness Clinic.

Acupuncture for Weight Loss in Sherwood Park, AB

If you’re ready to take the next step in your weight loss journey by giving acupuncture a try, look to All Deep Massage & Wellness Clinic to be your guide on your journey to true health and wellness. Our center is a place of healing and rejuvenation for people of all ages, and we provide a wide range of massage and acupuncture treatments to alleviate pain and suffering from both acute and chronic conditions, resulting in long-lasting relief. Since 2007, All Deep Massage & Wellness Clinic has served clients in Sherwood Park and the surrounding area, and we’re dedicated to the health and well-being of our clients.

Our therapists are highly trained in anatomy, physiology, pathology, remedial exercise and stretching, nutrition, orthopedic assessment, soft tissue therapy, and hydrotherapy, and we promote ethics and professional conduct as key characteristics of our business. Dedicated to providing exceptional service, we assess each client’s individual needs, designing a treatment plan that addresses current conditions and helps prevent them from reoccurring. To learn more about how we can help you feel refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated, call 780-416-0659.