Traditional Chinese Medicine For Weight Loss: Does It Work?
For centuries now, traditional Chinese medicine has contributed significantly to the understanding of how the human body works and how to use natural remedies to help boost the efficiency of our biological processes.
Traditional Chinese medicine is not only limited to the treatment of disease, but also focuses on a holistic approach to health – the state of physical, social, and psychological wellbeing.
Though one question still stands out:
Does Chinese medicine help with weight loss?
The shortest answer to this question is, Yes!
But here is the long version: to understand how this works, you should first know the types of Chinese medicine.
Types of Traditional Chinese medicine
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is perhaps one of the well-known components of traditional Chinese medicine. The procedure involves the strategic insertion of needles in different parts of your body. It is commonly used to manage pain and stress but can also boost your overall health.
2. Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a treatment therapy which involves the burning of a spongy plant material known as moxa as close as possible to the skin. It is believed that the burning moxa can induce healing by promoting the flow of life force, qi, into the right places of the body.
3. Tui na
This technique is pronounced as “Twee naw” and simply translates to “pinch and pull”. It is a therapeutic massage that is mostly used in combination with other TCM procedures such as acupuncture.
4. Qi gong
It is one of the oldest TCM techniques and involves specific dance moves. The mechanism is believed to be based on the principle that focusing attention to certain areas can make the life force, qi, to flow in those areas.
5. Herbal medication
This section of TCM has contributed significantly to natural health. It involves the use of several different plants, animal products and minerals in various formulas to treat the human body.
How TCM weight loss works
There are certain benefits of TCM that have been backed by research. For instance, it has been found that acupuncture is a preferred TCM for weight loss especially among individuals who are overweight with a BMI of between 25 and 30.
Studies also show that a combination of both moxibustion and acupuncture is associated with a significant reduction in bad cholesterol and also inhibits the accumulation of fat in the body.
Tai chi, another component of TCM that is more like qi gong has been proven to be just as effective as walking, jogging or cycling. It helps as a slimming treatment that loses a significant amount of weight. It also helps in improving your mood and boosting the quality of your sleep which are direct influencers of weight.
Popular Chinese herbs that are used in TCM such as angelica root, goji and Panax ginseng are known to help in losing weight. They work by either enhancing your performance in exercise or stimulating the breakdown of fats.
Conclusion
It is true that TCM weight loss programs are effective in the management of weight. You just have to select the one that works best for you and stick by it. However, you should ensure that you obtain TCM services from a qualified professional and seek their advice on the type of TCM method that’s best to help you achieve your weight loss goal.