Back & Neck Pain Center
Better Health Through Chiropractic Medicine
Auriculotherapy suppresses the desire to binge. For those who really struggle with irritability and cravings while dieting, auriculotherapy offers a wonderful addition to a weight-loss regimen. Patients report a decrease in appetite, an increase in satiety (fullness) while eating — which can really help when trying to stick to a new meal plan!
There is no mystery or secret to losing weight. All one has to do is eat less than the body requires as fuel and they will lose weight. But as everyone who has "tried everything" knows, eating less can be an excruciating challenge. Ear acupuncture or auriculotherapy (au-ric-u-lo-ther-a-py) seems to work where all else has failed.
For centuries the Chinese have known that the ear is an important nexus, or "switchboard", for acupuncture points controlling many body functions-- especially the appetites. When used for weight loss, ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) cuts down on the craving for food and most patients - especially those with a habit of not being able to "stick to diets"-- appear to be satisfied with smaller amounts.
Food craving is one of the worst enemies of dieters and ear acupuncture or auriculotherapy has proved to be a natural and effective way to control it. Stimulating ear acupuncture points regulates insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas and is responsible for the break down of fat, protein and glucose. Studies have proved that high levels of insulin lower blood glucose levels, a situation which makes you feel hungry faster. This in turn tends to fuel cravings for food, especially sweet and starchy foods. Moreover, excess insulin results in fat creation and storage in the body. Treatment of specific acupuncture points on the ear will stabilize insulin levels thus reducing cravings and will also promote fat loss.
Let's face it; stress and tension can be promoting factors for weight gain. Tension and stress increase brain chemicals that lead to overeating. Stress and tension act on the adrenal glands, leading to increased levels of the hormone, cortisol in the body. A higher level of cortisol triggers food cravings and also stimulates insulin, which leads to blood sugar dips and fat storage. This tends to turn into a vicious circle that feeds on itself over and over. By treating specific points on the ear we are able to help reduce stress and tension and promote proper hormone regulation. This is turn helps control cravings.
Auriculotherapy has been found to trigger a release of endorphins, which are feel good neuro-chemicals enhancing well-being. It has been found that many cases of food cravings are due to mood disorders and depression. When you feel good, you are less prone to food cravings.
Auriculotherapy speeds up the information from the stomach to the brain and increases the brains ability to recognize that the stomach is filling. What happens is you get full quicker. Typically it takes the brain twenty minutes to a half an hour to register that you are full. This is why it's so easy to overeat. By having this information delivered quicker, you won't eat as much. Patients report that outrageous cravings dissipate while under auriculotherapy treatments. It helps keep sweet tooth or a carbohydrate addict in check.
How frequently should I be treated? Weight loss patients are treated at a frequency of twice a week for four weeks. Patients who are out of control with their eating habits can be expected to be treated three times per week for four weeks. After you have completed treatment, most patients require a "booster" from time to time to keep their appetite under control. Most patients come in one time per month for a booster. Typically the number of auriculotherapy treatments required depends on the amount of weight an individual would like to lose. More weight equals more treatment. How is Auriculotherapy performed? Does the treatment hurt? No. The stylus we use to treat the acupuncture points is not a needle and does not pierce the skin. The stylus does not get hot. What it does is delivers a tiny dose of electricity directly into the acupuncture point. Some patients do not feel the stimulus while others do. The patients that do feel it, say it feels like a small sting initially and then it dissipates or goes away. Most patients do not find the procedure to be painful. COST The complete weight loss package is two treatments per week for four weeks. The cost is $395. Treatments after the program is completed are $45 per visit. If you choose not to take the weight loss package the first treatment is $125 and then $45 thereafter. With this method you can choose how long you want treatment. Typically treatments last for 20 minutes. Both ears are treated and 5-7 points are treated on each ear. More or less points on the ear may be treated depending on health history. After a month of treatment patients are doing rather well and the effects of treatment last for weeks to months. When the patient feels that their cravings or appetite are returning, typically 1-2 treatments is all that is needed to maintain weight loss
Auriculotherapy is performed by the doctor
using electricity (micro-current) as a means to treat auricular acupoints. The machine we use is called a Stim-Flex and it is the gold standard in auriculotherapy today. The machine finds acupuncture points on the ear, which increases the effectiveness of the treatment.
