Slim Down Naturally: 10 Acupressure Points for Weight Loss Success

Despite the many products, tips, exercise routines, and diets advertised throughout the market, weight loss can still be difficult for many. It can be frustrating to put in so much time, effort, and energy with little to no results in return. While the experience can vary from person-to-person, one thing for sure is the positive health effects of weight loss. Losing weight not only provides you a slim figure but also reduces your risk for heartburn, high blood pressure, and diabetes, among many other benefits. However, you might be at a point where many conventional treatments just aren’t cutting it for you. Instead, you can consider trying acupressure as an alternative treatment. If you would like to see how acupressure can help you, continue reading to find out the 10 best acupressure points for weight loss!  

What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is the practice of manually applying pressure to different parts of the body to achieve healing. With roots in traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure targets “acupoints” along meridians in the body. These meridians are channels that carry a flow of energy called “qi” or “chi”, and are believed to be connected to the body’s organs. Any disruption to this flow can result in illness. Acupressure can restore this balance by using the hands, fingers, or special devices to apply pressure to a point.

Acupressure is widely known to help with various symptoms, including pain, muscle tension, nausea and vomiting, headache, fatigue, and stress. Because this treatment is only done via massage therapy, it is safe for anyone to do it in the comfort of their own home. Later on, you will learn about the 10 best acupressure points for weight loss. It is best to consult with a licensed acupressure practitioner and your physician on how you can incorporate acupressure into your regimen.

Acupressure Points for Weight Loss

While there is still limited evidence on the effectiveness of acupressure in weight loss, it is gradually being adopted as a complementary treatment for those looking to shed a few pounds. Because some acupressure points play a role in digestion and metabolism, it is believed that treatment at these points can help with weight loss. Below you will find the 10 best acupressure points for weight loss at home.

Acupoint: TE-12 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-12/Xiao Luo/Draining Marsh)

TE-12, also known as “xiaoluo” or “draining marsh”, is located on the posterior upper arm between the qinglengyuan (TE-11) and naohui (TE-13). This is an excellent acupressure point to reduce arm fat. This acupoint functions in the regulation of water metabolism. Applying pressure to this point could help reduce swelling and make your arms look thinner. It can also help with headaches, stiff neck, toothaches, motor impairment, shoulder pain, and arm pain.

Acupoint: ST-6 (Other Names: Stomach-6/Jia Che/Jaw Bone)

St-6, also known as “jiache” or “jaw bone”, is located on the cheek where the masseter muscle attaches. This acupoint can help in relaxing the chewing muscles for a slimmer face shape. Otherwise, it is known for relieving pain in the jaws and teeth. You can also massage this area to treat facial edema, toothache, facial muscle paralysis, and neck pain.

Acupoint: GB-26 (Other Names: Gallbladder-26/Dai Mai/Girdling Vessel)

Gb-26, also known as “daimai” or “girdling vessel”, is located below the free end of the eleventh rib and Liv-13 at the umbilicus level. This point plays a role in blood circulation in the abdominal region. Treatment of this point could help reduce swelling in the belly as well as relieve abdominal pain, gynecological issues, hernias, and back pain.

Acupoint: Ren-4 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-4/Guan Yuan/Origin Pass)

Ren-4, also known as “guanyuan” or “origin pass”, is located in the pubic region, 3 cun below the navel. This acupoint deals with conditions in the lower body region and can suppress appetite for weight loss. It can also improve back pain, gas relief, genito-urinary issues, irregular menstruation, and fertility issues.

Acupoint: SP-6 (Other Names: Spleen-6/San Yin Jiao/Three Yin Intersection)

Sp-6, also known as “sanyinjiao” or “three yin intersection”, is located on the inside of the leg above the ankle. Targeting this acupoint can promote metabolism and reduce swelling in the legs. It is also most commonly stimulated for digestive, gynecological, urinary, emotional, and sleep disorders. Because it is connected to many systems, many acupuncture practitioners will often include this point in treatments.

Acupoint: ST-27 (Other Names: Stomach-27/Da Ju/Great Bulge)

St-27, also known as “daju” or “great bulge”, is located on the lower abdomen 2 cun below St-25. This is a great acupoint to treat if you are experiencing bloating symptoms. It regulates abdominal pain, urination, and the male reproductive system.  

Acupoint: ST-25 (Other Names: Stomach-25/Tian Shu/Celestial Pivot)

St-25, also known as “tianshu” or “heavenly pivot”, is located on the abdomen and 2 inches to the left and right of your belly button. Like St-27, St-25 relieves bloating as well as constipation, stomach pain, abnormal menstruation, and diarrhea. St-25 has a greater emphasis on intestinal issues compared to St-27.

Acupoint: Ren-9 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-9/Shui Fen/Water Division)

Ren-9, also known as “shui fen” or “water division”, is located about one finger length above the belly button. This acupoint opens water channels to reduce swelling in the abdominal region. This is believed to be important for digestive issues and abdominal pain.

Acupoint: Ren-12 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-12/Zhong Wan/Middle Epigastrium)

Ren-12, also known as “zhongwan” or “middle epigastrium”, is located on the upper abdomen about 4 cun above the belly button. There is a lot of energy concentrated at this point that helps strengthen the stomach, intestines, and spleen. Massage this point to promote digestion and reduce bloating for more efficient weight loss.

Acupoint: Ren-6 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-6/Qi Hai/Sea of Qi)

Can acupuncture help with weight loss?

Like acupressure, acupuncture stimulates acupoints along the meridians of the body but with the use of needles. While there are no specific acupoints for weight loss, many believe several points contribute to it. Weight gain is a form of imbalance in the body attributed to the liver’s abnormal functioning, spleen, kidney, thyroid, and endocrine system, which are commonly targeted in acupressure.

Evidence suggests that acupressure can help with weight loss and obesity by affecting hormones, promoting healthy digestion, reducing stress, improving sleep quality, and increasing energy. Even though these preliminary findings look promising, it is not recommended to depend on acupressure for weight loss entirely. Instead, it could help you more when paired with other lifestyle modifications such as exercise and diet changes.  

Can acupuncture help you lose belly fat?

In addition to weight loss, acupuncture could reduce belly fat. In a 2013 study published in Acupuncture in Medicine, researchers found that acupuncture treatment to the ear reduced participants’ body mass index. In one group of participants, they studied five ear acupuncture points referred to as Shen-men, Spleen, Stomach, Hunger, and Endocrine by placing needles in all points for a week at a time. In another group, they applied one needle to the Hunger point. A control group had the needles inserted and removed immediately. Participants did have to restrict their diet and not exercise during the study. As a result, those who had the five-point acupuncture treatment showed the most significant decrease in waist circumference and body mass index.

Bonus: Download free ear acupressure points chart

How much weight can you lose with acupuncture?

The answer to this question can vary from person-to-person. The length and frequency of the acupuncture treatment can also affect how much you lose. Again, acupuncture or acupressure is not meant to be a cure-all, but it can positively promote weight loss when coupled with the right routines. For treatments that occur several times a week for 6-8 weeks, it is possible to lose 10-15 pounds. Your acupuncture practitioner can give you more tailored advice best suited for your current needs.

How long does it take for acupuncture to work for weight loss?

As with any weight loss regimen, don’t expect results right away if you try acupuncture for the first time. It can seem like a miracle treatment at first glance, but it only works if you also put in the work. Several studies suggest that you can start seeing weight loss results anywhere from as early as 4 weeks to 6 months after starting treatment. Everybody is different, and there is no guarantee how anyone will react to acupuncture treatment. Since weight loss is a marathon and not a sprint, it is essential to be patient with yourself during this process.

What are the side effects of acupuncture?

Acupuncture can cause side effects depending on your current health condition and your acupuncture practitioner’s experience. Some side effects that people have reported experiencing from acupuncture include:

•   Bleeding
•   Soreness
•   Infections
•   Dizziness
•   Fainting
•   Bruising
•   Nerve damage

If you do your homework on your acupuncture practitioner, you should not experience severe side effects like some of the ones listed above. Fortunately, you can practice a less invasive procedure at home called acupressure. As previously mentioned, it only involves massaging the various acupoints around the body with your hands or fingers or a special device. We will soon discuss the 10 best acupressure points for weight loss that you can treat at no risk in the comfort of your home.

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