It is very common for women to contact practitioners of Chinese medicine for weight loss, or alternatively issues of weight and weight loss arise during treatment for other conditions.

Weight and body image play a very large role in the self-esteem of women in this country. This is because of such a heavy emphasis on conformity to certain body norms. There may also be complex psychosocial issues surrounding the whole subject of weight.

Being overweight can be caused by over-retention of fluids and this is commonly seen in our country. The function of the 'Spleen' in Chinese medicine is to ensure that body fluids are transformed and transported around the body. If the Spleen is not functioning well then body fluids will accumulate in the tissues which will lead to weight gain and a mixture of different symptoms depending on where the fluid is being retained.. For example, fluids can accumulate in the joints leading to joint pain and restricted mobility. Breast tenderness leading up to the period is caused by over-retention of fluids in the breasts combined with poor movement of energy in the chest.

Of course it is vital to look at diet when dealing with weight problems. Eating the wrong type of food for a long period of time is going to lead to an imbalance. The subject of Chinese Dietary Therapy is very broad and I suggest clicking on the text for more information about this subject. I can also recommend a very useful and easy to read book by Bob Flaws that is called 'The Tao of Healthy Eating '. I strongly recommend a consultation before making dietary changes, as this subject is quite complicated.

Acupuncture and Chinese Dietary Therapy are very effective in helping with weight gain that is caused by over-retention of fluids.