Love Thy Self: A New Year's Resolution to Lose Weight Using the Eastern Medical Approach

The Western approach to weight loss, according to the “Weight-Control Information Network,” is to suggest a healthy eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, lean meat and poultry. It says you should eat foods low in saturated fats, salt and sugar. The Eastern Medical community agrees with these recommendations and in addition, says that seafood has especially significant healing properties for the body. Where the Eastern approach differs most from the western is when it comes to understanding the reasons for weight gain in the first place.

While the Western focuses on treating the external forces of weight gain, such as only looking at the caloric intake of certain foods or requiring specific exercise regiments, the Eastern approach is to examine the internal or root cause of the body’s imbalance. In Oriental medicine, the body wants to maintain a healthy balance of Yin (deficient) and Yang (excess) energy known as Qi or Ki in Japanese. When you lack a sufficient amount of Qi, the body’s energy is depleted, and can go into a state of dis-ease. You are more susceptible to illness, and you become easily fatigued and lack the motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle.  Conditions such as allergies, headaches, digestive disorders and depression often occur previously or in conjunction with weight gain. According to Eastern Medicine, the organ most responsible for maintaining a healthy metabolism is the Spleen and when its (Qi) energy source is low it loses its ability to regulate body fluids, and that can eventually gel into fat. When the spleen is unbalanced, so is its paired organ, the stomach (both organs are related to the Earth element in five element theory.) When there is disharmony in those organs you become very sluggish and retain fluids in the body. This state is known as “dampness” (in the body) when translated from a Chinese Medical text. When we are “damp” we crave starchy and sugary foods and tend to be less active.

Both Acupuncture and Acupressure are excellent ways to find out the root cause of the weight problem. They use a combination of body treatments, meditation and press balls (that are placed on the specific point location on the ear to help reducing food craving) to increase Qi, restore spleen and stomach function, and reduce appetite. Qi gong is also recommended as an exercise to increase the metabolism while calming and focusing the mind.

In Eastern medicine, we say when the Qi is strong, we have more energy to exercise and our bodies are drawn to the healthy food it needs. Thus, when we are making intelligent food choices and exercising regularly we tend to improve out emotional outlook and take better care of ourselves. And that of course transcends into loving thy self even more!

Andrea Vladimir is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist who has been in practice for more than 20 years. She would be happy to offer a free 15-minute consultation over the phone to discuss the benefits of Eastern Medicine and schedule an appointment. You can contact her at Vitalchihealth.com.