Tag Archives: acupuncture

Ear Stapling is Another Unfounded Weight Loss Craze

We’ve all seen people do crazy things to try to lose weight. Eating baby food, Shake Weight, limiting calorie intake, and so much more. But, have you heard of stapling a part of your ear to help lose weight? It’s becoming more popular as the rumor says ear stapling can help with weight loss.

Ear stapling stems from ancient Chinese acupuncture. Claims have been made that staples surgically placed in the ear’s inner cartilage will release endorphins. (Endorphins are feel-good chemicals that affect a person’s stress and anxiety levels.) The ear staple in this location is said to target the stomach. It can decrease a person’s appetite, reduce stress, and increase the metabolism. The staple can be left in place for several weeks or even months.

I recently talked to Amy who got her ears stapled to help with her weight loss. She told me that she got her ears stapled because she didn’t want to do meal replacements; she wanted something that would help her behaviorally, let her mind make the right decisions for her body, not a pill.

As a massage therapist with nearly 20 years experience, Janelle Robertson of The Trove says, “It is my understanding and belief that unless a person is emotionally ready for weight loss, the application of needles or staples will not enhance any physical benefits toward weight loss.” She says that in managing a variety of illnesses and diseases for her clients, sometimes the referral to an acupuncturist is necessary; but even then she says, “I recommend the most qualified practitioners who will educate consumers on the benefits of acupucture for health and well being.”

On Tuesday, Amy paid 60 dollars to get each ear stapled and so far she has lost three pounds. Amy said she is watching what she eats on top of going to the dance studio. The person who performed the stapling for Amy said she should see results within one to two weeks. As Amy is getting older her metabolism is decreasing and she wants to get to a healthier weight, without doing anything mainstream. Hopefully, the ear staple helps with her weight loss journey. There is nothing like seeing average Americans lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, especially when they are aging. (more…)

Posted on September 25, 2023 by Samantha

Learn the Secrets to Ayurvedic Medicine on Dr. Oz

Tomorrow Dr. Oz will be discussing Ayurvedic medicine, or the concept that each individual body type should be treated with different medicines. Specifically, the doctor will be interviewing other doctors as they explain what they call “Secrets of Ayurvedic Medicine.”

Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. It originated in India. In the United States, Ayurvedic medicine is considered a whole medical system. That means it’s a complete system of theory and practice that has evolved over time in different cultures and separate from conventional medicine. Other whole medical systems include traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy. Many therapies used in Ayurvedic medicine include herbs, massage, and specialized diets.

Dr. Oz will be investigating the specific theory behind body types and Ayurvedic medicine. Dr. Oz will also discuss the many healing technique from around the globe. The guest will include Kulreet Chaudhary, MD, Phil Veneziano, Daniel Hsu, and Dr. Janet Tsai. (more…)

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Lacy

Beginner’s Guide to Alternative Health Care

Approximately 40 million Americans are making up the 300 million visits to acupuncturists, chiropractors and massage therapists each year. According to a Consumer Reports online survey, three out of four respondents said they choose these alternative methods for general health over prescription drugs and other types of conventional medical care.

Why is this? Participants in the survey claimed they used alternative methods because of the way they were raised or because some life changing illness caused them to look more closely at other ways to take care of their health.

If you are unfamiliar with alternative health care, it is easy to get overwhelmed when choosing what to do. For those who have an interest in learning about natural and holistic health care, the following explanations may help you decide which direction to take.

(more…)

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Jill

Yoga May Ease Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia can be a debilitating chronic health condition that affects an estimated 15 million Americans, the majority of which are women. Now, new research shows that yoga may offer relief to the muscle soreness and tenderness associated with this autoimmune disorder.

In a recent study of more than 50 women conducted at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, those who participated in a two-hour yoga session once a week reported improvements in both physical and psychological aspects of fibromyalgia, including decreased pain, fatigue, tenderness, anxiety and better sleep and mood. (more…)

Posted on October 22, 2023 by heather

Americans Head to China to Lose Weight

Some people will go to great lengths to lose weight. Some, more than others. As in, to the other side of the planet!

Three American men made the unusual decision to move to China in an attempt to shed weight at a fat-reduction clinic. In the process, they have become surprise local celebrities.

“The reason why I think it works here is that China is away from everything, all the stuff that I’m familiar with,” said Alonzo Bland, 33. He and brothers Walt and David Anderson, 56 and 50, have lived in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin since the middle of this year. (more…)

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Jason

Coughing: What Does it Mean?

This story on MSN.com was of particular importance to me, because I have coughing issues. I’ve been diagnosed with mild asthma and possibly an allergy of some sort. It’s a life-altering condition, because when a cough attack comes on, it can be uncontrollable and breathtaking, in the most literal sense.

Not to get too much into my psyche and the opinion I have of HMOs, doctors, etc., but I definitely want to be treated and diagnosed by specialists. I just feel like the diagnosis is based on very minimal inquiry. I got a breathing test to see what my lung capacity is, a steth0scope to the chest and back, and that’s it.

Maybe that’s all that can be done. But, I feel like the docs are just sort of guessing based on minimal testing and then treating symptoms with a pill. Again, maybe that’s all that can be done. But if there’s a natural way of treating it (like avoiding something I may be allergic to) or even an alternative like acupuncture, I’m game.

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Jason

Acupuncture a Pain Reliever

To those of us ignorant about acupuncture, who would have thought that sticking needles in your body could relieve pain? But, new research shows that using acupuncture before and during an operation can cut a patient’s need for more traditional painkillers.

“From a pain perspective, you can reduce the amount of morphine that the patient uses and improve the quality of analgesia and pain control,” said lead researcher Dr. Tong J. Gan, a professor and vice chairman of anesthesiology at Duke University Medical Center, in Durham, N.C.

Morphine is a potent painkiller used in hospitals. But it can often produce side effects. In the new study, Dr. Gan and his team analyzed data from 15 clinical trials looking at the use of acupuncture to reduce postoperative pain. They found that adjunctive acupuncture could reduce post-op itchiness by 30 percent, nausea by 50 percent, and dizziness by 60 percent. About eight out of 10 patients will experience those side effects from postoperative morphine, Gan said.

The studies Gan reviewed used Chinese acupuncture, but he said that similar effects would occur with other styles and whether needles, electrical or manual acupuncture was used. Adjunctive acupuncture is “not widely used because people need to be educated,” Gan said.

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Jason