Chinese medicine is an extremely effective tool to assist a person on their journey to loose weight.

Using Chinese medicine is NOT a miracle weight loss cure. Loosing weight is hard work, but I am here to help you cleanse your body, increase your energy levels and bring you back to a healthy state. It’s time to feel great again!

Being overweight or even obese is complex. Although it’s basic causes are simple and universal (i.e. excessive calorie intake relative to total energy expenditure), its manifestations are variable. My treatment methods include a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine.

How does it work?

During a Chinese Medicine treatment, we focus on your individual body constitution and needs. Therefor what might work for one person – will be different again for the next. However, to explain the concept of weight loss treatment in Chinese medicine terms, the general pathology can be attributed to Dampness or to have weak Spleen Qi, which can, or has already developed to cause deficiencies, resulting in the gaining of weight.

To be clear, the basic physiology of the Spleen in western medicine is that it’s apart of the immune system responsible for the production of white blood cells (lymphocytes) and the removal of old red blood cells. This is of course is true however, from a Chinese medicine diagnostic point of view the Spleen, paired with the Stomach, are both main digestive organs to which their function of transformation and transportation is evaluated closely to maintain proper health.

In regards to the accumulation of Dampness or water retaining qualities as a cause of weight gain, this happens because when the mitochondria (energy metabolism makers) of parietal cells are swollen, energy production and metabolism are less efficient. There is an impediment of the sodium and potassium pumps of the cells – resulting in fluid accumulation. Strengthening the Spleen Qi helps remedy this function. Poor diet makes it worse. The size of the fat cells from the draining also becomes smaller, thus producing a slimmer look whilst increasing your metabolism.

As I mentioned earlier, no two people are exactly the same. For another person, the pathogenesis could involve retention of Damp, food stagnation and constipation. In other words, liver function (particularly in relation to metabolism of fats) is sluggish, as also the bowels. By combining both approaches to clearing unwanted body fat, the treatment principle for this condition might focus on a temporary rapid transit of food through the bowels in order to avoid stagnation.

How do I start?

Make an appointment by calling Kaitlin on 0425 352 080 or contact us via Face book. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has a cumulative effect, similarly with healthy eating and exercise to achieve your goal. You will see steady results week by week as your weight decreases at a healthy rate.

For optimal results, all patients seeking weight loss treatment options are encouraged to exercise and maintain a healthy diet to enhance the effectiveness of the acupuncture and herbal treatments.

We recommend attending Well Beings Tai Chi for Health classes as apart of your healthy weight loss journey. Well Beings Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is an affiliate of Yin Yang Diet – Chinese medicine diet therapy. Information, recipes and meal plans suited to your body particular body constitution can be found here to guide you along the way. Take the quiz now  🙂

Related references and research:

Bemis,R (2013). Evidence for the NADA Ear Acupuncture Protocol: A Review of Literature.
http://www.acudetox.com/nada-bookstore#!/DOWNLOAD-Evidence-for-the-NADA-Ear-Acupuncture-Protocol-Summary-of-Research/p/39825493/category=10421207

Shiraishi T., Onoe M., Kojima TA., Kageyama T., Sawatsugawa S., Sakuri K., Yoshimatsu H & Sakata T (2003). Effects of bilateral auricular acupuncture stimulation on body weight in healthy volunteers and mildly obese patients. Exp Biol Med; Nov 228(10): 1201- 7.

Bahadori B, Wallner SJ, Wilders-Truschnig M, Miklauc N, Steinberger I, Bös U, Doberauer S, Wascher TC. Acupuncture as adjuvant therapy in obesity: effects on eating behavior and weight loss. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000; 24: S107.

Steiner RP, Kupper N, Davis AW. Obesity and appetite control: comparison of acupuncture therapies and behavior modification. Proceedings: International Forum on Family Medicine Education. Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Kansas City, MO; 1983. pp 313–326.

Sun Q, Xu Y (1993). Simple obesity and obesity hyperlipemia treated with otoacupoint pellet pressure and body acupuncture. J Tradit Chin Med; 13: 22–26.

Cho SH, Lee JS, Thabane L, Lee J. (2009). Acupuncture for Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Feb;33(2).

Giller RM. Auricular acupuncture and weight reduction: a controlled study. Am J Acupuncture 1975; 3: 151–153.

Tang X. 75 cases of simple obesity treated with auricular and body acupuncture. J Tradit Chin Med 1993; 13: 194–195.

Zhang Z. Weight reduction by auriculo-acupuncture—a report of 110 cases. J Tradit Chin Med 1990; 10: 1–18.

Zhao Y, Yang C, Liu Z. Effect of acupuncture on carbohydrate metabolism in patients with simple obesity. J Tradit Chin Med 1992; 12: 129–132.

Soong YS. The treatment of exogenous obesity employing auricular acupuncture. Am J Chin Med 1975; 3: 285–287.

Huang MH, Yang RC, Hu SH. Preliminary results of triple therapy for obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1996; 20: 830–836.

Information and guidelines also taken from ChinaMed Practitioner Guide