Be prepared for some unabashed analysis of the not-so-svelte areas of your body if you want to see what TCM can do to help you shed some pounds. The moment you walk into the doctor’s office, your stomach will be exposed to some firm squeezing, twisting and rubbing to determine what kind of fat you are packing.
As Dr. He Lusi explains, blood tests are first done to rule out diabetes and to identify which internal organ may be the cause. This will also decide the placement of the acupuncture needles – if the spleen function is weak, points along the body will be chosen to strengthen it. This type of acupuncture can be a touch painful, unlike routine sessions, as wind or humidity is driven out of the body.
If you are looking for a quick fix, TCM cannot help you. Dr. He explains it is best to treat it as a program, and she insists that exercise must be done 20 minutes a day to complement the 30 rounds of acupuncture that are the norm, while assuring results will be seen.
On the plus side, with TCM weight loss you don’t have to battle with your diet. “Eat anything, just not too much of it,” says Dr. He. Over-eating is symptomatic of a problem with the stomach that acupuncture can also sort out.
There are simpler solutions for those who show no underlying problem – a bit of jelly in the belly responds to massage well, which will improve circulation and disperse wind caught in the fat.
Excess blubber can also be affected by panty preference. The Chinese believe that precious qi leaves the body right below the belly button. Low-rise underwear popular with the modern woman is therefore a great source of loss of qi, according to Dr. He, making it harder for the body to get rid of tummy fat. She prescribes some high-waisted undies, worn above the navel. Guess Granny always knew best.
// Consultation is free, weight loss acupuncture is RMB220 per session. Shamian Traditional Chinese Medical Center, 85-87 ShamianBei Lu, Liwan District, Guangzhou 沙面国医馆, 广州市荔湾区沙面北街85-87号 (020-8121 8383)
