We are committed to addressing the biggest preventable cause of health-related problems:  Obesity!

In the office, we are constantly looking at ways to help our patients reach their health goals. Our very own Dr. Karla Miller has extensive experience in Acupuncture and shares her views on adding auriculotherapy into your weigh loss program in this article.  Our weight loss program, Take Shape for Life, has been hugely successful and we believe that balancing out the bodies energies can only help with overall success!

Auriculotherapy for Weight loss by Dr. Karla Miller

Auriculotherapy (acupuncture in the ear) suppresses the desire to binge.  Patients report a decrease in appetite and in increase in satiety (fullness) while eating. For centuries the Chinese have know that the ear is an important switch board for controlling many body functions especially the appetite.  The science behind acupuncture for weight loss shows that stimulating certain points regulates insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted from the pancreas and is responsible for the breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.  Higher levels of insulin lowers glucose levels which makes you feel hungry faster and cause you to over eat. Too much insulin will cause your body to store fat. Treatment will help stabilize your insulin levels and promote fat loss.

Stress can also play a part in the situation. Stress will cause an increase in cortisol, which will trigger food cravings.  By helping to reduce stress and tension and promote proper hormone balance. Acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins, which are feel good Neuro-chemicals enhancing well being.  If 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.

Auriculotherapy consists of stimulating specific acupuncture points in the ear with needles in the office and the patient is sent home with ear beads taped to the ear to stimulate between treatments.

Weight Loss patients are treated at the frequency of twice a week for four weeks.  After you have completed the treatment, most patients require a booster from time to time to keep their appetite under control.

Dr. Karla Miller is a licensed Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, and has been in practice for 10 years. She has her doctoral degree in Chiropractic and a bachelor degree in Human Biology. She has studied acupuncture in Asia and has practices at Community Chiropractic in Chicago since 2007.