Acupuncture and Women's Weight Loss

By Yun Brown, LAc

Oriental Medical Clinic

. http://www.omrh.net/

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Acupuncture and Women's Weight Loss

Acupuncturetreatment can help women achieve weightreduction and menstrual improvement. This is accomplished through its ability to help regulate levels of the hormone leptin, the thyroid gland system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis.

Clinical practice has demonstrated thatacupuncturestimulation of some commonly-used acupoints forweightreduction also has a favorable regulation on menstrual activity in obese women.

Acupunctureis an effective treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Several studies have shown thatacupuncture significantly increases beta-endorphin levels for periods up to 24 hours. Acupuncture therapycan help increase blood flow to the ovaries.

One recent study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on body weight and on levels of serum insulin, c-peptide and glucose in obese women. 52 women were included in this study. EA was applied to the ear points Hunger and Shen Men on alternating days and to the body points LI 4, LI 11, St 36 and St 44 once a day for 30 minutes over 20 days. Diet restriction that entailed a 1450-calorie diet program was applied.

There were increases in the serum insulin and c-peptide levels in the women treated with EA. The results suggest that EAtherapyis an effective method of treating obesity. EAtherapyalso helps serum glucose levels decrease through the increase of serum insulin and c-peptide levels.

It is very important to take chromium supplement for woman's weight loss. Chromium is a vital trace mineral that forms part of a compound in the body known as glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which promotes the normal regulation of insulin in helping to maintain normal blood sugar levels, and possibly, in helping to control appetite. Chromium also supports normal glucose metabolism.

More than 85% of American diets do not provide the recommended amount of chromium. Food sources of chromium include brewer's yeast, whole grain cereals, broccoli, prunes, mushrooms, beer, spices, brown sugar, coffee, tea, beer and wine. Refined foods, fruits and vegetables contain smaller amounts of chromium.