If you live in the Phoenix or Tempe area and struggle with weight loss, give acupuncture a try. Most weight loss methods and diets fail because although they might restrict calories and encourage exercise, they don't resolve internal barriers that are creating weight gain in the first place. Often, we see patients who are committed to improving their diet and exercise routine, only to find that the results are limited and often short-lived. In Chinese medicine, we assess the body's health in terms of energetic flow and balance. When any of our organ systems become energetically blocked, disharmony is created.

The two organ systems that are most commonly involved in weight struggles are the Liver and Spleen energetic systems. Beyond the organs as you know them, we are referring to the energetic system that allows for communication to and from this organ. In Chinese medicine, the Liver energetic system is responsible for the smooth circulation of all the energy throughout the body. When we undergo stress, for instance, this Liver energy becomes quickly congested. This means the energy cannot flow properly to the digestive system, which impairs the Spleen and Stomach functions. The Spleen in Chinese medicine (also encompassing the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar) governs assimilation of food and drink. If the Spleen function is impaired, our bodies don't assimilate food and fluids well, and we store more digestive byproducts, called "dampness" in Chinese medicine. This "damp" accumulation can be regarded as all mucous substances in the body including water retention, fat, cholesterol, triglycerides, and even sinus phlegm.

The key to weight loss in Chinese medicine is then to use acupoints along these energetic pathways (in this case, Liver and Spleen) to regulate energy flow and restore Liver and Spleen functions. Patients will usually experience improvement in digestion, elimination, metabolism, appetite, energy levels, stress, sleep and overall well-being. In combination with acupuncture, I also use Chinese herbal blends, nutrition, exercise and stress management to provide comprehensive and lasting results. Chinese herbs work internally to break down damp accumulations, curb appetite, improve nutrient assimilation and therefore energy. With nutrition, I guide patients not only from a traditional nutrition sense, but using Eastern approaches to food energetics. As some foods are warming, some cooling and others drying or moistening, the types of food a patient eats can improve or worsen their constitution. By guiding energetically supportive choices, the patient feels better and learns to support the new changes in their body.