Acupuncture for Weight Loss
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Understanding Acupuncture and Weight Loss
Acupuncture for weight loss is a needle-based therapy that comes from traditional Chinese medicine and is often used as a complementary approach to weight loss. While it’s not a magic solution or a replacement for healthy eating and exercise, many people choose it to support their weight loss efforts.
It’s commonly used to help manage things like cravings, digestion, and stress – factors that can impact weight. More and more clinics include it as part of broader weight loss programs, because it’s a reliable, natural, and supportive option alongside actual lifestyle changes.
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Acupuncture Benefits for Weight Loss
Curbing Cravings
Helps reduce sudden urges to snack and overeating habits.
Supporting Digestion
Can improve how your body processes food and absorbs nutrients.
Better Metabolism
Helps the body burn calories more efficiently.
Balancing Hormones
Supports hormones like leptin and ghrelin, which affect hunger and fat storage.
Reducing Stress
Calms the nervous system, which may reduce emotional or stress-related eating.
Improving Sleep
Better sleep can help with energy, mood, and appetite control.
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How Does Acupuncture Work for Weight Loss?
Acupuncture uses thin needles placed at specific points on the body to help support natural processes and bring the body back into balance. For weight loss,it helps regulate systems related to metabolism, appetite, and digestion. By stimulating connective tissue, acupuncture weight loss improves circulation, nerve function, and hormonal balance, which can support healthy weight management.
It also helps with insulin resistance and supports better glucose and fat metabolism. It influences two hormones: ghrelin, which affects hunger, and leptin, which helps control fat storage and metabolism. While results vary, people use acupuncture as a complementary treatment alongside diet and exercise.
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Acupuncture Points for Weight Loss
- Zusanli (ST36). Located below the kneecap, approximately 3 inches down and 1 inch away from the center of the body, this point affects upper abdominal organs and the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls digestion.
- Sanyinjiao (SP6). Found about 3 inches above the inner ankle bone, this point is associated with the lower abdominal organs and parasympathetic nervous system, influencing digestion and metabolism.
- Zhongwan (CV12). This point is about 4 inches above the navel, it impacts upper abdominal organs and digestive functions, including the stomach and intestines.
- Renzhong (GV26). THis point is on the philtrum, less than 1 inch below where the nostrils meet, it influences weight, particularly in cases of obesity.
- Xuehai (SP10). Above the kneecap, about 2 inches away from the body’s center at the bottom of the thigh muscle, this point affects blood sugar levels, especially in the context of diabetes.
- Tianshu (ST25). Midway between the outer border of the abdominal muscle and the umbilicus line, this point helps regulate the intestines and address gastrointestinal issues like constipation and diarrhea.
- Auricular Points (Ear Acupuncture for Weight Loss). Specific points on the ear, such as shenmen, spleen, stomach, hunger, and endocrine, have been used in auricular acupuncture to support weight loss.
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Acupuncture for Weight Loss Procedure
First of all, a weight loss acupuncture session may differ slightly from person to person based on their treatment plan. But it generally follows a set structure with just some tweaks. A weight loss acupuncture session usually starts with an in depth conversation about your goals, lifestyle, and any health concerns you may have. The practitioner will then choose specific acupuncture points for weight loss on your body – usually around the ears, abdomen, legs, or arms – that support metabolism, digestion, and appetite control.
Thin, sterile needles are gently inserted into these points and left in place for about 20-40 minutes while you relax. Some sessions may also include techniques like electroacupuncture (gentle electrical pulses delivered through needles) or ear seeds for continued pressure after the session. The process is calming and pain-free for most people, though sensations may vary.
Still have questions about whether acupuncture for weight loss is right for you?
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Acupuncture for Weight Loss at Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL
- At Copper Wellness in Chicago, we offer acupuncture therapy for weight loss as part of our integrative health services to help you lose some pounds in a natural and supportive way. Our treatments are designed to help with appetite control, digestion, and stress – all of which can greatly affect weight.
- In addition to weight loss acupuncture, we may also add Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, and lifestyle advice to better help you achieve your weight goals.
- Our team takes the time to understand what you’re after and create a fully personalized plan that works with your body, not against it. Book your acupuncture treatment for weight loss session today and see how we can help you see and feel the difference!
About results
Reviews About Acupuncture for Weight Loss
I have been going to Copper Wellness for nearly 4 years and cannot say enough good things about the clinic and all of their providers. Dr. Madden is a truly exceptional acupuncturist. I worked with her almost weekly during my first pregnancy and postpartum, and now for my second pregnancy, and she has been such a blessing with hormone health, stress and anxiety management, digestion, and sleep. She has the most amazing presence and all of her guidance has always been spot on. I also saw Dr Mohr during my first pregnancy to help with pregnancy aches and pains and pelvic positioning - he is also wonderful, so knowledgeable and kind and helped relieve a lot of my physical symptoms during that time. I’ve gone to Benicia for massage too and she is one of the best! (and I’ve seen a lot of massage therapists in my life)
I am moving from Chicago soon and truly going to miss this amazing clinic.
I am moving from Chicago soon and truly going to miss this amazing clinic.
Response from the owner 11:44 03 Jun 25
Dear Marianna,Thank you so much for your kind words and for being with us all these years. We're honored to have supported you through both pregnancies. Dr. Madden, Dr. Mohr, and Benicia will be touched by your feedback. Wishing you all the best in your move — you'll always be part of the Copper Wellness family! 
Dr. Mohr helped me tremendously with lower back pain and SI joint pain years ago and I still use the exercises he provided me to sustain feeling better. He used multiple techniques and movement based therapies to improve my ability to bend and lie down without pain.
Response from the owner 07:57 26 May 25
Thank you so much, Jack! We're truly glad to hear you're still feeling better — your kind words mean a lot to us! 
I have received services and initially had good intentions for a relationship with this clinic, but the billing issues and poor customer service significantly affected my experience and I feel compelled to share.
From the beginning, I was clear that billing transparency was important to me. Despite that, I ran into repeated issues with billing. The clinic charged me estimated amounts that didn’t ultimately match my Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from UnitedHealthcare, and when I brought up the discrepancies—with actual documentation to back it up—I was met with defensiveness rather than a willingness to resolve things collaboratively.
One particularly strange policy I encountered was that this clinic might charge a “clinic fee” if UnitedHealthcare doesn’t accommodate their cash rates. This seems to blur the lines between in-network and out-of-network billing.
Meanwhile, claims weren’t submitted to insurance promptly, which delayed payments and caused unnecessary confusion—none of which was my fault as the patient.
Bottom line: I paid what I was invoiced on time, asked reasonable questions when things didn’t add up, and was made to feel like I was the problem for doing so. I’ve since paused services until this can be sorted out—and I feel compelled to share my experience here.
From the beginning, I was clear that billing transparency was important to me. Despite that, I ran into repeated issues with billing. The clinic charged me estimated amounts that didn’t ultimately match my Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from UnitedHealthcare, and when I brought up the discrepancies—with actual documentation to back it up—I was met with defensiveness rather than a willingness to resolve things collaboratively.
One particularly strange policy I encountered was that this clinic might charge a “clinic fee” if UnitedHealthcare doesn’t accommodate their cash rates. This seems to blur the lines between in-network and out-of-network billing.
Meanwhile, claims weren’t submitted to insurance promptly, which delayed payments and caused unnecessary confusion—none of which was my fault as the patient.
Bottom line: I paid what I was invoiced on time, asked reasonable questions when things didn’t add up, and was made to feel like I was the problem for doing so. I’ve since paused services until this can be sorted out—and I feel compelled to share my experience here.
Response from the owner 18:14 28 May 25
Hi Tina, I am sorry that your experience was not as you had hoped at Copper Wellness. Before starting treatment all patients using insurance are given a breakdown of what their benefits cover at the clinic. Because of your shared concern about billing transparency, we also provided a breakdown of all potential charges for every type of appointment covered by insurance after your first treatment and before continuing care. We are happy to do this with any patient. Insurance billing is not an automated process, we submit the claims based on our insurance contracts with these companies and are paid as such. If there is a discrepancy in an overpayment it is issued back to the patient.We understand insurance can be frustrating and confusing which is why we contract a certified outside billing team to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of our billing practices. After reviewing all the communication I thought it was best to refer you to another practice which is local to you and within your network. As the owner and a practitioner I believe it is best that your healthcare environment be in a place that makes you feel relaxed and supported. I am sorry that cannot be us however we all wish you the best of luck with your journey. 
Copper Wellness has been a pivotal part of my wellness routine since moving to Chicago - can’t the imagine the city without them!
Response from the owner 14:31 21 Feb 25
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re grateful to be part of your integrative health and wellness journey and truly appreciate your support. Looking forward to seeing you again! 
I've been seeing Dr Stephanie Madden since last year, and the experience has been truly transformative. Overall, Copper Wellness is both calming and welcoming. Stephanie is always attentive to my needs, whether they are physical, mental or emotional. I always leave feeling more balanced than when I came. It's obvious that she truly cares about the well-being of her patients. If you are considering acupuncture, this is the place to go!
Response from the owner 08:17 10 Feb 25
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that your experience at Copper Wellness has been transformative. We appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to support you on your wellness journey! 
I can't say enough great things about my experience at Copper Wellness! Dr. Madden is truly incredible. She has been instrumental in helping me manage my weight and find relief from stress, something I've struggled with for a long time. Her personalized approach, calm demeanor, and deep knowledge made me feel completely comfortable and cared for during each session!
Response from the owner 08:17 10 Feb 25
Thank you for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you’ve had a great experience at Copper Wellness. Dr. Madden is dedicated to personalized care, and we’re grateful to be part of your health journey! 
Copper Wellness has been a blessing in my life, I cant stop talking about the progress that Dr. Madden's treatment plan has made in my mental and physical health. The environment is calm, welcoming, and always filled with positive energy. I discovered Dr. Madden during a period of self reflection, I felt an imbalance in my life. When we met, she explained the practice and how it can impact the symptoms I was feeling. Acupuncture as a whole can change your life - it has mine, and Dr. Madden is the perfect provider to guide you to your ultimate wellness. Thank You Copper!
Response from the owner 18:17 27 Jan 25
You're a true testament to you get out what you put in. You've been so dedicated to your care and it's a gift to see you thriving in the happiness you've created for yourself. We love to be along for the ride and see how feeling your best helps you tackle your dreams. 
I've been seeing Dr. Mohr for a number of years now and the results have been amazing! From the first visit, I felt welcomed and listened to. My back pain has significantly improved, and I feel more energized and aligned (pun intended). Highly recommend if you're looking for top-notch care!
Response from the owner 18:18 27 Jan 25
Thanks Joe! We love the dad jokes, keep 'em coming 🙂 
Copper Wellness has been my point of care for everything related to my body and immune system consistently for 3 years now. I started my journey when my low back and glute were bothering me. Between Adam for muscle and movement work in addition to adjustments and Stephanie for my first round of acupuncture continued through to two of the hardest athletic years of my life running 7 marathons and competing in 6 IM events I owe my body to this group. They always keep my races top of mind when treating me but more importantly work on exercise and life habit changes to improve any issues I’m experiencing rather than just putting a “bandaid” on something that hurts. Also note that the massage therapy is unbelievable, Blu as a MT is life changing and all of the practitioners communicate across practices so that all care is tailored to areas I need focused on. I HIGHLY recommend this group.
Response from the owner 18:40 27 Jan 25
Whitney! Literally always keeping us on our toes keeping up with your impressive and successful yearly race schedule. It's been awesome to see you achieve your goals while enjoying the process. Can't wait to see what you have scheduled for this year. 
Absolutely love this place. I go to Dr. Madden for Acupuncture and she not only will take time to sit and listen to what is going on with my body, but she'll also curate a plan of attack that is personalized to my needs. I absolutely love coming here and appreciate everything that they do.
Response from the owner 18:38 27 Jan 25
Thank you Lauren 
I. Love. This. Place! I see both Dr. Mimosa for chiropractic and Dr. Madden for acupuncture, and they are two of the best practitioners of *any* type of medicine I've EVER worked with. They listen. They care. They genuinely want to help you feel your best. I can't recommend them and Copper Wellness enough.
Best Chiropractors in the city yall!! Dr.Mimosa is sweet and easy to talk to. Dr. Adam is very easy to talk to as well. Highly recommend!!!
Can't say enough good things about Anais. Very professional, very knowledgably, and just an amazing caring person! You are in the best of hands with her, would highly recommend!
I have been seeing Dr. Madden for acupuncture for almost a year now and I don't know where I'd be without her. She's incredible at what she does and the entire staff is awesome.
Anais is simply the best! Had a great review, consultation of problem areas and left feeling like I was on a cloud! Can't wait to go back, highly recommend the electrode therapy, it was amazing.
Dr Madden is a miracle worker. For over a year I had issues with my feet. She was the 1st to say my calf’s were right! Her acupuncture was spot on and helped right away. The stress caused issues in my neck as well that she helped not only with acupuncture but cupping as well. Her care and compassion is amazing. I will continue on maintenance because she is so amazing. ‼️
Copper Wellness has been a pivotal part of my health journey! The integrative services that are offered are tailored to my needs/situation. Specifically, when I needed to start doing massage therapy for upper and lower back pain, Cameron Sand did a great job from the start making me feel comfortable. Whenever I have a question, they answer it readily and explain how and what they are doing during our session. I’ve seen a huge improvement since working with them and couldn’t recommend them enough!
I sincerely wish that I could give Dr. Stephanie Madden 1 million stars. From the time that I met her for consultation through my entire acupuncture journey with her, she was incredibly attentive, genuine, personable, professional, precise, safe, knowledgeable, skilled, and wise with her work. I saw Dr. Madden for about 1 a little over a year to help resolve physical issues from emotional traumas and sufferings in my life. I cannot stress how different my life is from when I first saw her. She helped me get to core issues in my physical health that other doctors never came close to articulating, let alone being aware. Working those physical issues directly helped me so much with my emotional health. My quality of life now is so much better because of her contributions to my healing journey. After working with Dr. Madden, she is a practitioner that I trust and deeply respect. If anyone ever asks me to recommend an acupuncturist, I would never hesitate to recommend anyone to her. I even recommended her to one of my friends on his journey to receive a heart transplant, and she made a positive impact on his quality of life. He had nothing but positive things to say about her (and now he is thriving with a new heart!). Dr. Stephanie Madden has made a wonderful impact on my life, and I can only imagine the impact she is making on the lives of others whom encounter her. She is someone that has answered her call in life, and is absolutely brilliant at it. Brilliant!
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FAQs About Acupuncture for Weight Loss
Does acupuncture for weight loss really work?
Yes, acupuncture can be effective for weight loss at Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL. By stimulating specific points, it helps balance hormones, reduce cravings, and boost metabolism. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise, many clients see positive results.
How much does acupuncture for weight loss cost?
At Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL, the cost of acupuncture for weight loss varies depending on the treatment plan. Contact us directly to learn more and schedule your consultation!
How often should one undergo acupuncture sessions for weight loss?
At Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL, the frequency of acupuncture sessions for weight loss typically depends on your individual goals and progress. Generally, we recommend starting with 1–2 sessions per week and adjusting as needed. Our practitioners will create a personalized plan to help you achieve the best results.
Are there any potential side effects of acupuncture for weight loss?
Acupuncture for weight loss at Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL, is safe for most people. While rare, some may experience mild side effects like bruising, dizziness, or temporary fatigue. These effects are typically short-lived, and our skilled practitioners ensure your comfort and safety during each session.
How fast does acupuncture work for weight loss?
At Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL, the effects of acupuncture for weight loss can vary from person to person. Many clients begin to notice changes, such as reduced cravings or increased energy, after a few sessions. For optimal results, we recommend consistent treatments along with a healthy lifestyle.
Is acupuncture for weight loss effective on its own?
At Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL, acupuncture for weight loss can be effective as part of a holistic approach. While it helps reduce cravings, improve metabolism, and balance hormones, combining acupuncture with a healthy diet and exercise routine enhances the results for optimal weight loss.
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