You may be familiar with the fact that acupuncture is used in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, from headaches to neck and lower back pain.

What you may not know is that acupuncture has been shown to be highly useful in resolving  tension and stress and emotional conditions.

In 1998, the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Office of Alternative Medicine funded a study of severely depressed women. Acupuncturists developed a standard treatment plan for the study that targeted certain "depression points" on the body, and then devised a so-called "dummy" treatment that placed needles in nonspecific places. The practitioners administering the treatment had no idea if they were using the real or dummy plan.

After the treatment, the depression groups experienced a 43% reduction in their symptoms, compared with a 22% reduction in the dummy group. Over half no longer met the diagnostic criteria for clinical depression.

The NIH concludes, "Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones in a good way."

While acupuncture will not alter the circumstances of a person's life, it can prove useful in combating stress. Acupuncture is primarily concerned with regulating our life force, called "qi" (pronounced as chee). Treatment with acupuncture has a relaxing, calming, somewhat tranquilizing effect that is especially helpful for people suffering from stress. It can relieve feelings of anxiety and depression and can improve one's sense of self-confidence and well-being. Acupuncture is also used clinically to treat other anxiety-related conditions like panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Now the question we've all been waiting for. How does acupuncture assist with weight loss?

Weight control is a multi-faceted problem, and a good program involves diet, exercise, and stress-reduction techniques. Acupuncture is a useful tool in the battle with weight loss, but is not a wonder cure. It is, however, effective in making it easier to lose and maintain that loss if a person is willing to change his or her lifestyle.

Acupuncture needles inserted into specific points on the body release endorphins which have a calming and relaxing effect that makes it easier to deal with stress, frustration, and anxiety--that can also trigger overeating and binging on fattening foods. Also, endorphins affect the digestive and hormonal systems so acupuncture can help rebalance organ systems that are running too fast or too slow, such as one's metabolism.

In order to choose the correct points for a patient, the acupuncturist will discuss with him or her their particular patterns of overeating and any digestive difficulties. Then the acupuncturists will do a physical examination to look for clues as to why the person may be gaining weight.

Then, armed with this information, the acupuncturist devises a treatment protocol using a combination of body points. The number of treatments needed depends on the patient's goals for losing weight, the speed at which he or she wants to lose, and his or her commitment to keeping the weight off.

Again, a good weight loss program includes nutritional counseling and exercise as well as a commitment to making permanent lifestyle changes.