By Dr. Angelina Pullen, DAcCHM, LAc, BS, Dipl. OM, LMT
This New Year, millions of people resolve to lose weight and improve their health. While pharmaceutical solutions and GLP-1 medications dominate headlines, a growing number of individuals are discovering lasting success through natural, holistic approaches that address the underlying causes of weight gain rather than simply suppressing symptoms.
Understanding the Root Causes of Weight Gain
Weight management challenges rarely stem from willpower alone. Acupuncture and Functional Medicine practitioners recognize that sustainable weight loss requires identifying and addressing root causes such as hormone imbalances, chronic information, insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction, stress induced cortisol elevation, and digestive disorders. Unlike conventional approach is that focus solely on calories in versus calories out, natural medicine examines the intricate web of factors affecting metabolism and body composition.
The Ancient Wisdom of Acupuncture
Acupuncture, practiced for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, offers a powerful tool for weight management without medications. This therapeutic approach works by stimulating specific points on the body to regulate appetite, enhance metabolism, reduce stress, and balance hormones naturally. Research suggests that acupuncture can influence leptin and ghrelin—the hormones responsible for hunger and satiety—helping patients feel satisfied with appropriate portions while reducing cravings for unhealthy foods.
Regular acupuncture treatments also address emotional eating by reducing stress and anxiety, two common triggers for overconsumption. By promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality, acupuncture creates the optimal internal environment for healthy weight management. Many patients report decreased appetite, improved digestion, and increased energy levels within just a few sessions.
Herbal Medicine: Nature’s Metabolic Support
Herbal Medicine is a natural alternative that can offer metabolic support by addressing various underlying factors that influence metabolism from a root cause perspective. Unlike synthetic pharmaceuticals, herbs work synergistically with a body’s natural processes. Chinese herbal formulas are customized to each individual specific imbalances, whether addressing sluggish digestion, water retention, hormone imbalances or metabolic slowdown.
Certain herbs have demonstrated remarkable benefits for weight management. Although natural herbs and supplements have far less side effects than western pharmaceuticals, careful considerations must be monitored for potential interactions with medications and certain health conditions. When prescribed by a qualified Board Certified Herbal Medicine Physician, herbal medicine provides targeted support without the side effects associated with pharmaceutical interventions.
The Functional Medicine Approach
Functional medicine takes a comprehensive view of weight management by evaluating levels for nutritional deficiencies, gut health, toxin exposure, and metabolic dysfunction. Practitioners utilize advance testing to identify hidden obstacles to weight loss, including food sensitivities, microbiome imbalances, or mitochondrial dysfunction.
This holistic approach often encompasses protocols that focus on anti-inflammatory nutrition, blood sugar stabilization, and gut healing. By restoring optimal digestive function and eliminating inflammatory triggers, the body naturally returns to its healthy weight. Functional medicine also addresses often overlooked factors like an adequate sleep, environmental toxins, and chronic stress that sabotage even the most dedicated weight loss efforts.
Creating Lasting Transformation
The power of natural approaches lies in their sustainability. Rather than quick fixes that fail when discontinued, acupuncture and functional medicine approaches create lasting physiological changes. Patients develop healthier relationships with food, experience sustained energy throughout the day and achieve weight loss that maintains itself through improved metabolic function.itself through improved metabolic function.
This New Year, consider investing in your long-term health through natural medicine. By addressing root causes rather than masking symptoms, you’ll discover that sustainable weight management isn’t about deprivation or medications—it’s about restoring your body’s innate balance and allowing optimal health to emerge naturally. The journey toward your healthiest weight begins with understanding and supporting your body’s remarkable healing capacity.
About Dr. Angelina Pullen, DAcCHM, LAc, BS, Dipl. OM, LMT
Dr. Pullen is a board-certified Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine dedicated to holistic, patient-centered care. She earned both her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences and Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine from the East West College of Natural Medicine, followed by a Doctoral Degree in Acupuncture with a specialization in Chinese Herbal Medicine from the Pacific College of Health and Science.
Licensed by the State of Florida and Nationally Certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), Dr. Pullen also holds certification in Advanced Acupuncture Point Injection Therapy (APIT) and is a certified Functional Weight Loss Consultant.
With over 26 years of experience in the massage therapy field, Dr. Pullen brings a rich background in holistic health and wellness. Her practice integrates the wisdom of traditional Eastern Medicine with modern biomedical understanding, allowing her to effectively address a wide range of conditions—including chronic pain, stress-related disorders, digestive concerns, women’s health issues, headaches, autoimmune and preventive wellness.
Renowned for her compassionate and personalized approach, Dr. Pullen designs individualized treatment plans that may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, cupping, tui na (Oriental medical massage), and TCM nutrition. She is deeply committed to identifying and treating the root cause of illness rather than merely managing symptoms, empowering each patient to achieve lasting balance and well-being.
(941) 787-4488
www.lhwacupuncture.com
14888 Tamiami Trail, North Port, FL 34287
AP4388, LMT MA30731