Dog days are the hottest season of the year, also known as “long summer”, when Yang Qi is the most vigorous. At this time, the metabolism of the human body is accelerated, which is the best time for health preservation. For children who need to lose weight, this period of time is a rare golden period.
“In the dog days, acupuncture can help children lose weight healthily.” Yu Mengyun, chief physician of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department of Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, believes that dog days are the best time to adjust physical fitness, dispel cold and dampness, and enhance resistance, as well as the ideal time to lose weight.
Childhood obesity is not only a problem of overweight, but also a series of health problems, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and so on. Taking effective weight loss measures in the dog days can help children establish healthy living habits and prevent obesity and related diseases in adulthood.
Yu Mengyun pointed out that the high temperature in the dog days is conducive to the opening of pores, the discharge of sweat, and the enhancement of acupuncture efficacy. In addition, the body’s metabolism is accelerated in the dog days, which is more conducive to the decomposition and discharge of fat; acupuncture in the dog days can enhance children’s immunity, improve disease resistance, and promote physical health; it can also help children develop healthy living habits, maintain weight for a long time, and prevent rebound.
“Acupuncture and moxibustion weight loss operations include acupuncture, moxibustion and other methods, doctors can use different combinations of acupoints for different types of obesity in children.” Yu Mengyun introduced that the specific methods include the following.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is the most commonly used acupuncture method. By needling specific acupoints, such as Tianshu, Zusanli and Sanyinjiao, it can regulate the function of the spleen and stomach, promote metabolism and reduce fat accumulation.
Moxibustion: Moxibustion uses the burning heat of wormwood to stimulate acupoints and regulate physical fitness. Moxibustion in dog days can warm Yang and invigorate Qi, and enhance the effect of weight loss.
Auricular acupuncture: Auricular acupuncture regulates the function of the whole body by stimulating the acupoints of the ear. Auricular acupuncture can effectively suppress appetite, reduce food intake and help lose weight.
Needle pressing: For children who are afraid of pain and cannot be guaranteed to go to the hospital for treatment, they can also choose needle pressing for needle retention and extension treatment to increase the cumulative amount of stimulation, so as to accumulate the dose effect in time, thus playing the role of continuous treatment and intensive treatment.
Cupping: Cupping is a treatment suitable for all ages. It can stimulate acupoints, remove moisture, dredge meridians, and promote fat decomposition and metabolism through flash cupping or cupping. With our department’s characteristic traditional Chinese medicine preparation “Huazhuo Xiaoman” ointment, the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and glass jar is more conducive to the effect of reducing fat and bundle shape.
Yu Mengyun reminded that children need the full support and cooperation of their parents to lose weight. Parents should help their children establish healthy eating habits and lifestyles while losing weight through acupuncture and moxibustion in dog days.
Specific measures include: eating a reasonable diet, reducing the intake of high-calorie and high-fat foods, eating more fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains to ensure balanced nutrition; increasing exercise, encouraging children to do outdoor sports, such as running, swimming, cycling, etc., to enhance physical fitness and increase energy consumption; Maintain good work and rest, help children develop a good habit of going to bed early and getting up early, ensure adequate sleep, promote growth and development; psychological support, pay attention to children’s mental health, help them establish a correct concept of weight loss, avoid inferiority complex due to obesity.
