Positive Health Online

Abstract

CABYOGLU and ERGENE, Department of Physiology, Selcuk University, Faculty of Meram Medical, Konya, Turkey, have reviewed (37 references) the treatment of obesity by acupuncture.

Abstract: It has been reported that acupuncture is effective in promoting weight loss. It can affect appetite, intestinal motility, and metabolism, as well as emotional factors such as stress. Increases in neural activity in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, in tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach and in levels of enkephalin, beta-endorphin, and serotonin in plasma and brain tissue have also been observed with acupuncture. It has been found that acupuncture increases excitability of the satiety centre in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. Acupuncture stimulates the auricular branch of the vagus nerve and raises serotonin levels. Both of these activities have been shown to increase tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach, thus suppressing appetite. Serotonin also controls stress and depression via endorphin and dopamine production. In addition to these effects, it is thought that the increase in plasma levels of beta-endorphin after acupuncture can contribute to weight loss in obese people by mobilizing the body’s energy depots through a lipolytic effect.

Background

Methodology

Results

Conclusion

References

The treatment of obesity by acupuncture. International Journal of Neuroscience 116 (2): 165-175, Feb 2006.