Stomach fat and Stress Hormones

A lot of people seem to be suffering from chronic stress these days. This type of stress can readily cause hormonal imbalances, which makes it very hard to shed weight. A stress hormone known as Cortisol causes the accumulation of fat in our midsection. An effective treatment plan for this is to exercise and diet; but, if you’ve managed to lose weight, in order maintain it, the underlying problem of hormonal imbalances and stress need to be addressed, as well. This can be achieved with Chinese herbs and acupuncture. Emotional eating can also be due to chronic stress since eating certain foods when we’re feeling down can make us feel good.

The Five Flavors and Cravings

Why do we crave things? Several relationships throughout nature and specifically throughout the body are recognized by Chinese Medicine. The concept of the Five Elements is one aspect of Chinese medicine that can help us understand health. The Five Elements in Chinese medicine are: Wood, Water, Metal, Earth and Fire. Each of these elements has a corresponding flavor related to it. We tend to crave a flavor when the element associated with that flavor is out of balance.

There are times that the thing we crave the most is exactly what we need. Sometimes also, the worst thing possible is the one we crave for, but most of the time, the thing that we’re addicted to is the one we crave for. This is especially true with processed foods that are loaded with excititoxins such as aspartame or monosodium glutamate (MSG) and/or sugar making them highly addictive to people. To restore balance in your body systems, and lessen the craving for junk, highly addictive, and nutrient-deficient foods, you should consider getting acupuncture and Chinese Herbal treatment.

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Exercise

We all know that one of the most crucial aspects of losing weight is exercise, but does anyone know that are two different types of exercise? The exercise that engages the sympathetic nervous system and stresses the body is called sympathetic exercise. This kind of exercise usually brings discomfort to the body as it is pushed to its limits in order to gain certain health benefits, like burning calories, melting fat, and enhancing the cardiovascular system of the body. Sympathetic exercise is a “No pain, no gain” or “Feel the burn” type of exercise. The second kind of exercise is called the parasympathetic exercise and Chinese Medicine tends to favor this type of workout. The parasympathetic exercise allows the body to come out of stress mode and relax; Yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Yoga and other practices of this sort and even breathing and walking fall into this category. For chronic stress sufferers, the parasympathetic exercise is a very effective way to deal with stress. If a hormonal imbalance caused by stress is responsible for your weight gain, it is important to calm yourself and go into a relaxation mode. With parasympathetic exercise, you can exercise and relax at the same time. Find a class near you that offers parasympathetic exercises or consult with an acupuncturist.

Is Chinese Medicine for Weight Loss Treatment Safe?

There are very few side effects associated with Chinese medicine. It is very safe; however, some herbs such as Ephedra have caused a bit of controversy. The controversy originated from a few folks who have used extracts of the herbs irresponsibly. Always talk to a responsible and trained herbalist who will always dispense the correct doses of herbs for your specific needs. The best way to know if your Chinese herbalist is qualified and well-trained is to see if he/she is certified by the NCCAOM.

Ni Nan Healing Art Center
2579 Merrick Rd
Bellmore, NY 11710
Phone: (516) 442-7408