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Can Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Help With Weight Loss?

Ira Wahrman Acupuncturist Doing Acupuncture — Acupuncture For Digestion

Many patients call the office in Mamaroneck asking about acupuncture for weight loss. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be very helpful for weight. In general there are two approaches. In general there are two approaches. The first approach is to use specific acupuncture points and treatment protocols that have been shown to help with weight loss. Practitioners who do this type of treatment will often advertise treatments for weight loss and it may even be one of their specialities. Another approach to weight loss is to look at a patients health in a holistic way. When I say a holistic way the focus is not primarily on the weight. The focus is making the person as healthy as possible and as a result the body will slowly find its own healthy weight.

I tend to follow a more holistic approach. First there are many reasons why a person may not be able to loose weight. It can be poor diet, improper lifestyle habits, lack of exercise, stress, poor sleep, anxiety, depression, poor digestion, chronic pain, hormonal imbalances, genetics, medications, etc. It can be a combination of things and it often is.

Stress and Insomnia

If you just focus on weight and do not transform your health through holistic treatment, diet and lifestyle adjustments it will be difficult to loose weight and keep it off. The first things that needs to be worked on are digestion, elimination, sleep, stress and emotional health. When under stress our bodies release hormones that will often increase hunger and cravings. Many people under stress consume more calories especially at night. I have many patients that have strong food cravings around bedtime. This is often due to stress. By managing stress with acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments it becomes much easier to manage food cravings and your appetite. It is the same thing with sleep. If you are having trouble getting rest at night and suffer from insomnia your body will also tend to hold onto extra pounds. Lack of sleep will cause your body to release hormones that again will increase hunger and cravings and cause your body to hold onto weight. By getting adequate rest our bodies can regulate metabolism and hormones to keep us energized and relaxed during the day. As a result we make better choices and our bodies functions optimally which again will prevent weight gain and increase loss.

Digestion

Poor digestion will also often lead to food cravings and poor eating habits. Patients who suffer from constipation, loose stools, ibs, Crohn’s, reflux etc. often have a difficult time loosing weight. This is due to the fact that regardless of the food they are eating they are not digesting well. By smoothing out digestive issues patients often find it much easier to make the dietary changes needed for good health and weight loss. If digesting poorly your body does not assimilate nutrients well and lead to cravings. You can eat the fanciest and most expensive health foods and still not loose weight. After eating you should feel satisfied and not crave sugar. Your stomach should be relaxed and your energy level should not be affected by your meal. In the morning before eating breakfast you should pass a normal stool. If this is not the case your digestion is not functioning optimally and you may have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.

Urination

It is important to have healthy bowel movements and normal urination. Healthy elimination means your body is regulating waste properly. By normal urine I mean light yellow urine four to six times a day. It should not be hesitant, urgent or painful. If your urine falls outside of the normal guidelines your body may have trouble regulating waste and you may have a tendency to keep weight on.

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are also major contributing factors weight gain and obesity. People who suffer from anxiety and depression will often have difficulty with managing their lifestyle and eating habits. Many people who feel depressed also have difficulty motivating themselves to make healthy lifestyle and dietary choices.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Can Help

Obesity has become a major issue in this country and it is a contributing factor to many chronic health conditions. If you are having trouble loosing weight and want some help meeting your health goals feel free to give me a call to discuss your options. As a Chinese Medicine pracitiioner I strive to empower my patients. Making slow dietary and lifestyle changes accompanied by acupuncture, herbal and massage is a very good combination for many people to reach their health goals. Many people feel lost when it comes to their health. I can hopefully help you gain some clarity and put you on the path to better health. In time you will hopefully reach your optimal weight.

If you have any questions about acupuncture and Chinese medicine and would like to see if the treatments at the office in Mamaroneck would be a good fit for you feel free to call (914) 772-4044. If you would like to book your first appointment please click the button below.

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A Case Of Severe Dizziness – Cupping To The Rescue

Cupping Case Study

Recently I had a patient a patient come into the office in Mamaroneck with upper back tightness, headache and severe dizziness. A few months prior she was coming in for acupuncture and bodywork to help to alleviate her symptoms of depression and improve her sleep. Acupuncture and bodywork were very helpful for those symptoms but when she came in this time she was suffering from new symptoms and dizziness was the most bothersome. Usually acupuncture and body work do wonders for these symptoms but for this session the patient left feeling more relaxed, but the dizziness persisted. When feeling around her neck I found a lot of restrictions in her upper neck and decided to apply cupping. We did an intense cupping session lasting about 20-30 minutes and afterwards her dizziness was 90% better. Acupuncture and bodywork are usually my go to treatment for most patient visits but when they do not give the result the patient is looking for, I often will look for other treatments to help. In this case cupping was the key. Cupping alone helped this patient recover from her dizziness.

What is cupping?

Cupping is a cross-cultural technique that has been used all over the world by various cultures throughout history. Cupping is a therapeutic technique that creates suction on the skin to help to extract toxins and relieve muscle tension from deeper tissues. The body’s cells use oxygen and release carbon dioxide, but when circulation is blocked, waste can accumulate, causing discomfort. This can include pain, stiffness, numbness, etc.

Physical pain signals a disruption in circulation of blood, fluids and energy flow. When toxins are trapped in muscles or joints, the body struggles to eliminate them, leading to further blockage. Cupping uses vacuum suction to draw these blockages to the skin’s surface, making it easier for the body to remove them through the blood supply. As these blockages move you will see coloring of the skin. For mild blockages in circulation the marks will be pink to light red. For more serious blockages the color can vary from dark red to purple to even black. The darker the color of marking the stronger and more chronic the blockage. The good news is that the darker the blockage the better your symptoms should feel after the treatment. This is usually the case but not always. The marks disappear in 2-7 days.

In just ten minutes, cupping can eliminate toxins from targeted areas and promote fresh blood flow, revitalizing the tissue and restoring circulation. Cupping can reduce the overall number of treatments needed for various health conditions. For many chronic pain conditions, it can often reduce the recovery time by half.

Is cupping painful?

The cupping sensation can be sometimes be uncomfortable l for the first sixty seconds, the time during which most of the toxins are removed. It is helpful to try to relax into the process of being cupped, and to acknowledge and tolerate the discomfort. It will be worth it.

What can cupping help with?

Respiratory Conditions: Cough, colds, asthma, COPD, bronchitis, wheezing pneumonia, poor immunity, other chronic and acute respiratory conditions.
Pain Conditions: Joint pain, fibromyalgia, back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, stiffness, numbness, jaw pain, TMJ, sciatica etc.
Skin Conditions: eczema, itching, hives, etc.

Cupping can also be helpful for digestive, urinary and reproductive issues that are related to muscle tension and tightness. Cupping also does wonders for muscle tension and tightness caused by stress. It is also helpful for some neurological cases including some forms of dizziness.

Back to my patient. Here are some pictures from her treatment. She felt much bette after the treatment. Once the cups went on I could see the dark dark red and purple markings quickly show up. I had high hopes for her to feel better. The treatment was not painful and she is still doing great.

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You do not need acupuncture! You are in control of your own health.

I would like to start with a quote from Sun Si Miao. He was a famous physician from the Tang dynasty. Often referred as the medicine king and revered by doctors, Taoists and Buddhists.

“First, modify the patient’s diet and lifestyle and only then, if these do not effect a cure, treat with medicinals and acupuncture”

Most of my patients come to the office in Mamaroneck to receive acupuncture or Chinese medicine treatment. Many of my patients also take herbal medicine. I often combine acupuncture, massage, moxibustion with herbs for treatment. There are times when I get a referral from patients at distance. Either their friends or family members have had success with acupuncture and herbal medicine and they want to receive treatment as well. I have worked with patients remotely as far as San Francisco. We do a herbal consultation over the phone and I ship them their herbs. We also take a deep dive into diet and lifestyle as well. I really enjoy doing remote consultations for herbal medicine and lifestyle. I really get to see how the herbs, diet and lifestyle changes are working on their own. I did a remote consultation a few months ago and while the patient was waiting for her herbs to arrive she sent me the email below. Prior to speaking with me she was passing loose stool 4-5 times a night. She would wake with nausea and had some other health concerns. The only change she has made to her lifestyle was avoiding cold, raw foods and she started to drink hot water as her main beverage during the day. Without taking herbal medicine or having one single acupuncture session she is already seeing big changes in her health. I am so happy for her. She is another example of how a simple simple adjustment can bring about drastic change. I am sure she will stick with it since she saw how big the change was. I hope you can be inspired by her example.

Below is an email I received from the patient:

I am shocked at how much of a difference drinking warm water and making sure my food is heated has helped!! I honestly didn’t realize how often I go to eat unheated food. I think it’s a habit I started when I became a mom. Your needs come last and next thing you know, all of your food is cold and you don’t bother to take the time to reheat!

I admittedly haven’t been doing great at eliminating all of the foods to avoid, so I can only imagine things are going to continue to improve as I continue to be more mindful of my diet too!

My bowel movements are returning to normal for the first time in a couple years. I still haven’t been sleeping super well, but no more multiple bouts of diarrhea at 4/5am. I’ve even had a regular movement during the day.

Remember you are in charge of your own health. I am only here to help.

Watermelon A Great Summer Snack

In Chinese, watermelon is called 西瓜 (pronounced she gua). 西瓜 translates as western melon. In Chinese medical thought watermelon can be used to treat or prevent mild summer heat disease. Now you might be asking, what is summer heat disease? Summer heat disease usually manifests as a general aversion to heat, irritability, sweating, headache, scanty-dark urine, thirst, rapid pulse. The tongue tip and sides may also be red. The summer heat pathogen enters the body and cooks off the fluids in your body. One of the easiest ways to prevent this problem is to eat watermelon or drink the juice made from watermelon.

Cool Off This Summer With Mung Bean Soup

According to the Chinese calendar summer started May 6th this year. Today in Mamaroneck it was actually very warm. Many of the acupuncture clients were complaining about how hot it is outside. So I thought it would be appropriate to write this post since the days are already getting longer and pretty soon it will be hot and muggy in the Northeast. As you have seen in my prior posts drinking cold water is not the best way to cool down in the summer months. Drinking cold water will initially make you feel cooler but it will actually make your body feel hotter because the cold will cause your pores to contract.