Eating disorders are becoming more prevalent. These disorders are divided into two types. One group of people refuse to eat even they are hungry; other group constantly eats even when they are not hungry. In practice, it is found that females are much more likely to suffer from eating disorders than males. This problem is much more likely to manifest either during the teen years or menopause.

Anorexia is used to define that people who believe that they needed to lose weight by not eating, even though they are very thin, weak and hungry. They are fearful of becoming fat and worry about what other people think of them. They are depressed and feel ashamed and negative about the way their body looks. They are overactive and obsessed with working out. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that this disorder is mostly related to an imbalance of the liver and low kidney Chi, which causes unreasonable fear, cloudy thinking, confusion and misinterpretation of signals. These people are excessively sensitive to the environment and people around them and they are extremely resistant to eating.

Some people eat constantly. They mainly complain that they can’t stop eating even though they are not hungry. They have low energy and have difficulty losing weight. They are easily depressed and have a difficulty concentrating.

Traditional Chinese medicine tells us that this condition is caused mainly by low Chi of the organs, which influence the balance of the nutrition. These people have to eat more to get feeling of the balance, but the body does not absorb food well so these people keep eating to no avail.

Eating disorders are usually considered to be a psychological problem, but in recent years, traditional Chinese medicine, medical scientists and nutritionists have identified eating disorders as physiological problems as well. Traditional Chinese medicine also tells us that eating disorders are associated with emotional stress, which makes people feel anxious and disconnected with the people they love, whether this is their parents, or others - related or unrelated.

Drugs are not only the answer for eating disorders; acupuncture is one of the best natural methods. To help patients become balanced physically and mentally, the acupoints are selected depending on the individual’s condition. Acupuncture can wake up the body’s self-healing ability to bring about whole body balance. It is preferable for the patients, the parents, family members or friends to work together with the doctors and support the patient in regaining balance of the body, mind, and spirit. Not too fat and not too thin is the perfect balance.

Contact Li Hua L.Ac. TCMD at Atlanta Acupuncture Center or 404-250-9903 or e-mail lihua@aac2000.com or surf her web site at www.aac2000.com