Acupuncture for Weight Loss: Does It Work?

Acupuncture is a medical treatment which is practiced by inserting sterile needles on particular spots of the body according to different "energy pathways." It is likened by both Eastern and Western medical professionals to hypnosis. When needles are inserted, Endorphins are released which helps the body feel calm and relaxed. Acupuncture comes from the Chinese and it believed to help control pain, cure allergies and help people lose weight. When a calm state is achieved, the flow of energy is thought to improve. The effectiveness of Acupuncture for weight loss has not yet been proven. However, medical practitioners believe that undergoing Acupuncture helps in suppressing the appetite and boosting the metabolism. Also, being calm prevents binging which could be a result of stress.

Scientific research of people who rely on Acupuncture alone to lose weight is inconsistent. No evidence can suggest that acupuncture is responsible in people shedding pounds. However, people who underwent Acupuncture have reported significant improvement when it came to depression and anxiety. But when people combined Acupuncture with other traditional methods of losing weight, the results look promising. This is mostly true of those who had Acupuncture often (at least twice a week). In a study conducted among overweight people, undergoing Acupuncture frequently was thought to have suppressed their appetite and in turn helped them lose weight.

People who tried Acupuncture in order to lose weight did experience side effects like headaches, nausea and vertigo or loss of balance. There are no serious effect though. Overall, this treatment is considered to be safe. If you are interested in giving it a try, practice it for at least 3 to 4 weeks to see results.