Acupuncture weight loss

In a study published in the current issue of International Journal of Obesity, researchers found acupuncture was effective and significantly reduced body weight in obese patients. The researchers compared acupuncture to placebo or sham treatments. Acupuncture also showed more improved outcomes than conventional medication.

My comment: Maintaining optimal weight for otherwise healthy individuals has numerous health benefits. This study shows acupuncture to be helpful as a treatment for obesity. This study focused on obese patients. I believe that acupuncture may help to normalise the body weight (ie decrease or increase it). Acupuncture should not be seen as a replacement for a healthy eating habits and exercise. It may be helpful in restoring the healthy lifestyle by decreasing anxiety, stress, regulating appetite, relieving depression, increasing motivation (including motivation to exercise) and improving quality of sleep.
In my clinic I see numerous fertility patients suffering from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). Acupuncture can help these patients to restore regular ovulation. Maintaining body mass index between 20 and 25 is another way to alleviate symptoms of PCOS. This study also suggests that there may be more than one way acupuncture is helpful for PCOS patients.

PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries) and Acupuncture

A group of scientists from GuangZhou, China compared application of acupuncture for PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome) with medicinal treatment. After treating 60 woman with acupuncture and another 61 with medication, the scientists found that acupuncture group and medication group both showed an improvement in hormone levels, ovulation and other. However after six cycles past the treatment, the hormone levels of women who underwent the conventional treatment returned to their pre-treatment levels, while the acupuncture group continued to show improved results. Furthermore, the pregnancy rate in the acupuncture group was significantly higher.
The researchers concluded that acupuncture therapy has obvious effect on PCOS and the therapeutic effect is long-term.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2007 Feb;27(2):99-102.

Chinese herbal medicines for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS

Japanese doctors use Chinese herbal medicine to treat infertility

Dr. Takahisa Ushiroyama and colleagues at Osaka Medical College in Japan conducted a trial of treating polycystic ovary syndrome and non-polycystic ovary syndrome with herbal medicine. The medicine is Unkei-to (Chinese name Wen-Jing-Tang), which combines 12 herbal drugs, including ginseng, cinnamon bark, angelica root, evodia fruit and ginger stem. One hundred women participated in the experiment. Fifty-two of these women were given a daily dosage of 7.5 gram Unkei-to while the other women remained untreated. The study shows that more than half of the women treated with Unkei-to saw improvement in their menstrual cycle and successful ovulation. It is further discovered that the treatment can reduce the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), a symptom characteristic of polycystic ovary syndrome. Still, the mechanism of the treatment remains unclear.

Read the story here

More on PCOS and acupuncture

IVF and acupuncture :: vitalis.co.nz