Stimulation of six ear points using tiny metal beads may reduce waist circumference, body fat and BMI in obese men.
- In auricular acupuncture, fine needles or beads are placed on certain points in the ears to restore the flow of energy by removing blockages or disturbances.
- This practice, used for more than 30 years in Japan, would reduce waist circumference by about 10 cm, body fat by 4% and BMI by three points.
- These effects would be linked to a reduction in cravings and a better regulation of appetite.
Anxiety, tobacco addiction, low back pain, pregnancy-related nausea… To treat these different pathologies, acupuncture can be proposed, depending on the ministry of health. As a reminder, this is a practice stemming from the Chinese medical tradition, which is based on the idea that health depends on the circulation of energy in the body. It consists of stimulating points on various parts of the body using techniques that can be physical, such as the implantation of needles, acupressure devices, the application of suction cups, magnets, or the use of lasers.
Ear acupuncture sessions combined with a restricted diet
During the european congress on obesity, held May 17-20 in Dublin, Japanese researchers have found that auricular acupuncture can help overweight or obese men lose weight. To achieve this discovery, they conducted a study among 81 Japanese, aged 21 to 78, overweight or obese with a high level of abdominal fat.
Twice a week, the volunteers benefited from an auricular acupuncture session. This practice is based on the theory that the outer ear represents all parts of the body. Fine needles or beads are placed on certain points to restore the flow of energy by removing blockages or disturbances, which could help treat a range of health issues.
As part of the work, 1.5 mm metal beads were placed on six points of both participants’ ears. They were held in place with tape to ensure that the participants were constantly receiving even pressure on each of the six acupuncture points. At the same time, adults were asked to halve their total food intake during the study. At the beginning and at the end of the intervention, the patients were weighed.
Auricular acupuncture: “a positive effect by reducing cravings and appetite”
After three months, overweight and obese men lost an average of 10.4 cm in waist circumference and 4% in body fat. As for their BMI, it decreased by almost three points (average BMI from 28.4 kg/m² to 25.5 kg/m²). “Our results suggest that acupuncture on the ear may help with weight loss when combined with a certain diet and physical activity. It is likely that acupuncture has a positive effect by reducing cravings and appetite, improving digestion and boosting metabolism.(…)As these tiny metallic beads are attached to six points in the outer ear which stimulate the nerves and organs regulating appetite, satiety and hunger, this type of acupuncture does not require complex knowledge or skills. In Japan, this method of helping weight loss has been used for more than 30 years”, said Takahiro Fujimoto, author of the research.