Korean Job Discussion Forums

noobteacher · Joined: 27 Nov 2009

So, I am currently working on losing weight (diet, exercise, etc.) and was considering acupuncture and oriental medicine to assist in the process. I went to one clinic who quoted me 800,000 for a month of intense acupuncture and medicine!!

Has anyone done anything like this or had any experience? Is this clinic off their rocker and just out for the money instead of trying to help people? Has anyone had any good results doing this type of thing?

I plan on checking with some other clinics in my town, but I was curious if anyone has had any experience with this kind of treatment (or anything similar)?

***This is a serious inquiry so please don't jump in with your "get off your ass and exercise" and "just stop eating" comments. I am doing those things, and just interested in other ways to boost my progress.

Squire · Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Location: Jeollanam-do

Absolute nonsense. New age pseudo science that will only distract you from the simple objective of burning more calories than you eat

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

I tried certain types of acupuncture for weight-loss with mixed results. I think it needs to be a lifesyle change. I spent a crapload of money, lost some weight,~ mostly fat. Then I gained a bit of it back. The main thing that I would say is~ it's not an instant panacea. It's OK, but part of it is what you eat and how you live your life. All I can say is be careful. All the best to you.

Squire · Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Location: Jeollanam-do

flakfizer · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:35 am Post subject:

I went in for regular acupuncture to lose weight a few years back. I was pleased to find that I had lost several pounds. Then I found out that the weight I had lost was simply equal to the weight of the organs they had harvested. Crying or Very sad

Died By Bear · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 3:16 am Post subject:

Just have your jaws wired shut, you will lose the weight quick man.

Stout · Joined: 28 May 2011

Went out with a Korean girl recently who showed me some pictures on her smartphone of her visit to Japan a couple of years ago. The things, she wouldn't ever click on any of the pics to enlarge them..so after squinting at the thumbnails it became apparent that the speciman/chick in front of me was substantially/for all intensive purposes a different person, swear the whale in the pics had cheeks which were like 3-5x larger, I am not even exaggerating ...

In any case later she says to me, "Anytime someone you know needs to shed some weight, tell'em to head to an accupuncture clinic."

I've heard it said before, but I've never seen it like that before.

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

you WILL lose some weight.

you will first notice that you've lost a few ounces in weight immediately. don't get out the party poppers yet, however, because this is from the large amount of money you just gave away.

you will then notice that you've lost a few more ounces quite suddenly. don't swing at the pinata yet, however, because this is from the amount of grey matter that just took the first bus out of your skull.

as they say, a fool and his money are easily parted.

warmachinenkorea · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

Get on a good weight program, make sure it includes squats, and build some more muscle.

Do sprints and leave out the long cardio.

MollyBloom · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Location: James Joyce's pants

Well, I guess this is the question (sorry to hijack, OP): does acupuncture really work? Perhaps for some things and not for others? I know some people who swear by it, and others who make it their life's mission to debunk myths about it.

noobteacher · Joined: 27 Nov 2009

Hey guys and gals! Thanks so much for the responses. I guess it just goes to show how divided people are on the topic and why I am having a hard time deciding who/what information to trust. Like Stout, I have heard people say that the acupuncture/oriental medicine doctors are the best people (especially here in Asia and SK) to go to for help with weight loss, but nobody has ever been able to show direct proof. Always "oh it was a friend of a friend of a friend" who swears by it.

I've done acupuncture for some pain and illness before, and I do believe it helps, but the weight loss thing I'm not so sure about.

Anyway, keep the info coming!

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Stout · Joined: 28 May 2011

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Here ya go:

Some have said accupuncture could help control appetite, I'm not for or against by the way.

http://www.google.ca/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=acupuncture+for+weight+loss+reviews&pbx=1&oq=accupuncture+for+w&aq=1s&aqi=g-s4&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=1439l10084l0l12958l18l18l0l0l0l2l1842l12717l3-5.5.1.4.1.2l18l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=cc42732b8afe297f&biw=1246&bih=793

http://www.insideyourdiet.com/355/can-i-use-acupuncture-for-weight-loss/

A recent study found that women who had body mass indexes of over 27 who regularly used proper diet and exercise methods lost more weight when adding acupuncture than women who only used diet and exercise.

There are many fans of using acupuncture for weight loss. While many claim it works, they often disagree as to why. Some people do not believe its weight loss potential has nothing to do with the five pressure points, and believe it works by reducing stress levels, which causes people to feel better and lowers the chances of compulsive eating. Others believe that it reduces pain, which allows people to get moving and keep exercising.

nateium · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Location: Seoul

Acupuncture is pseudo-scientific nonsense. Most all TCM is just a waste of money. Don't forget that because you "feel better" (or lost weight) after you've done something like TCM doesn't mean that it worked.

Feelings are subjective and the placebo effect is very real. That why you should stick to evidence based medicine that comes from double blind studies.

For weight loss; don't eat so much and cut out the carbs. Unlike TCM there are loads of data to back this up.