According to research, ear acupuncture making use of metal beads could help in reducing weight, body fat, and BMI when combined with a restricted diet.
The study indicates that food cravings could be managed by making use of the less complicated way of acupuncture stimulation using beads instead of the traditional intradermal needles that necessitate an expert acupuncturist.
This kind of acupuncture doesn’t demand complex skill or knowledge given that these tiny metal beads attach to 6 points on the part of the outer ear that stimulates organs and nerves that regulates hunger, satiety, and appetite. This weight loss method has been made use of in Japan for more than 30 years.
Acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine is based on the notion that health is dependent on the flow of energy, or chi, in the body.
This energy moves along imperceptible pathways called meridians that are located throughout the body, including the ears. A disrupted or blocked flow of chi can negatively impact mental and physical health.
Ear, or auricular acupuncture is based on the concept that all areas of the body are represented by the outer ear. Thin beads are positioned on sure points, normally along the meridian lines, to help restore the chi flow by resolving any disruption or blockages and could help with various health problems.
The method has been made use of for drug addiction treatment and to help individuals quit smoking as well as lose weight.
Although the mechanism is not clear, research indicates that ear acupuncture could help in modulating metabolism, regulating the endocrine system, promoting digestion, and lessening oxidative stress.
This study builds on prior research in overweight or obese Japanese women which discovered that significantly more weight was lost in individuals treated with bead ear acupuncture compared to untreated individuals, and the weight loss was maintained for as much as 6 months once the treatment ended.
This study in 81 overweight or obese Japanese men between the ages of 21 and 78; with high levels of abdominal fat and a BMI of 28.4 kg/m² on average evaluated auricular acupuncture using 1.5 mm metal beads on 6 points of the outer ear which corresponded to the endocrine system, lungs, stomach, upper stomach opening, food pipe, and shen-men.
The beads were positioned on both ears and surgical tape was used to keep them in place to ensure continuous uniform pressure on each of the 6 acupuncture points. Replacement of the beads was made twice a week. Body weight was measured while doing so and the individuals received diet guidance.
They were requested to keep food diaries and reduce total food intake by half throughout the 3 months of the treatment.
All individuals were measured and weighed at the beginning and end of the treatment, which included abdominal fat, BMI, muscle mass, lean mass, fat mass, body fat percentage, and body weight to observe what effect auricular acupuncture using beads could have.
Substantial differences were observed after 3 months, with 4% of total body fat lost on average (from 28.2% on average to 24.3%), and 10.4cm of waist circumference lost on average (from 98.4cm on average at the beginning of the study to 88cm)
Unhealthy abdominal body fat measures also dropped by 2 points on average (from 15.2 at the beginning of the study to 13 after 3 months, assessed on a scale of 1 to 59; with a rating of between 1 and 12 for healthy visceral fat, and a rating of between 13 and 59 for excessive levels), and BMI dropped by nearly 3 points (BMI 28.4kg/m² on average to 25.5 kg/m²)
The results indicate that ear acupuncture could help with weight loss when combined with exercise and diet. Ear acupuncture may have a positive impact by curbing appetite and cravings, boosting metabolism, and improving digestion.
The researchers point out a few limitations such as that it’s an observational study over a short period involving a small group of men and causation can’t be proved.
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