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Acupuncture for TMJ: Jaw Pain, Tension, Clicking

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Tired of jaw pain, clicking, and tension that night guards don’t fix? Dr. Jun Xu explains how acupuncture addresses the root causes of TMJ dysfunction.

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Acupuncture for Plantar Fasciitis: A Natural Approach to Heel Pain

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Struggling with stubborn heel pain? Dr. Jun Xu explains how acupuncture targets the root causes of plantar fasciitis and what the clinical evidence shows.

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Acupuncture for Tinnitus: Can Needles Help the Ringing?

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No cure for tinnitus, but acupuncture may help. Dr. Jun Xu explains how needles target the underlying patterns driving ear ringing and what the research shows.

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Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: Key Differences Explained

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Dry needling vs. acupuncture — what’s the difference and which is right for you? Dr. Jun Xu explains both frameworks, where they overlap, and how to choose.

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Acupuncture for Allergies and Sinus Issues:

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Struggling with seasonal allergies or chronic sinus issues? Dr. Jun Xu explains how acupuncture targets the immune root of allergic rhinitis for lasting relief.

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Acupuncture for Depression: What Works and What Doesn’t

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Can acupuncture help with depression? Dr. Jun Xu breaks down the neuroscience, TCM patterns, and what the research honestly shows about treatment outcomes.

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Acupuncture for Athletes: Recovery, Performance & Injury Prevention

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From faster recovery to injury prevention, Dr. Jun Xu explains how acupuncture supports athletic performance and what the sports medicine research shows.

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Not sure how often to get acupuncture? Dr. Jun Xu breaks down exactly how treatment frequency works by condition, timeline, and goal.

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Acupuncture can support weight management, but it can't replace a caloric deficit, a better diet, or consistent movement. Any clinic telling you otherwise is overselling.

Dr. Jun Xu is a board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation . After thirty years in practice, his answer to "can acupuncture help me lose weight?" is honest, specific, and worth reading-especially if you've already tried the obvious things and hit a wall.

Why This Question Deserves a Straight Answer

Most patients looking into acupuncture have already tried losing weight the traditional way. You've probably tried diets and calorie counting, and your doctor might have told you to just "eat less and move more," as if that was a revelation. When traditional approaches haven't worked, many turn to acupuncture for support.

Acupuncture is not a weight-loss treatment, the way a GLP-1 medication or a sustained caloric deficit is. It does, however, perform a specific role with certain benefits.

What TCM Says About Weight and Metabolism

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees weight as a matter of metabolic function, fluid metabolism, and energetic balance.
The Spleen
In TCM, the Spleen transforms food and drink into Qi (vital energy) and Blood. When Spleen Qi is weak, that process breaks down-food goes unprocessed, dampness accumulates, and energy production stalls. The effects include fatigue, post-meal bloating, and weight that won't budge despite a reasonable diet.
The Liver
The Liver governs smooth Qi flow throughout the body. When stress, frustration, or emotional tension blocks that flow, things get stuck - including eating behavior. Liver Qi Stagnation is TCM's explanation for the 9pm kitchen visit that has nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with needing somewhere to put a feeling.
The Kidney
Kidney Yang is the body's warming, activating energy-its metabolic fire. When deficient, the result is persistent cold, exhaustion, and a slower metabolism. More common with age or after prolonged depletion from overwork or illness.

The Four Key Patterns Dr. Xu Looks For

Spleen Qi Deficiency - fatigue, bloating, loose stools, weight resistance despite genuine dietary effort. The metabolic engine is underpowered.

Phlegm-Damp Accumulation - the most common weight-related pattern. Heaviness, fluid retention, sluggish energy, a body that holds onto everything. Develops from chronic Spleen deficiency compounded by a processed-food-heavy diet.

Liver Qi Stagnation - stress-driven and emotional eating, mood-dependent cravings, the restrict-overeat cycle. As much an emotional regulation problem as a nutritional one.

Kidney Yang Deficiency - cold, exhausted, metabolically sluggish. Weight loss feels impossible regardless of effort, often accompanied by low libido, poor sleep, and cold extremities.

Stomach Heat - excessive appetite, strong cravings, eating quickly, and in large quantities. Less common, but important to identify when present.

How Acupuncture Interacts With the Body's Weight Regulation Systems

Acupuncture doesn't burn calories. But it does influence several physiological systems that directly affect weight. Here's what that actually looks like.

Appetite hormones. Ghrelin drives hunger. Leptin signals fullness. In people with obesity or chronic overeating patterns, both become dysregulated - ghrelin runs high, leptin stops being heard. Research suggests acupuncture can reduce ghrelin levels and improve leptin sensitivity, helping restore more accurate hunger and fullness signals.

Insulin sensitivity. Acupuncture (particularly stimulation of ST 36) activates signaling pathways involved in glucose metabolism and insulin receptor function. This is important for patients with weight resistance due to insulin dysregulation or prediabetes.

Cortisol and abdominal fat. Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which drives fat storage - especially around the abdomen. Acupuncture's well-documented ability to regulate the HPA axis and lower cortisol directly addresses this mechanism. It's often why a patient's weight gain seems out of proportion to what they're eating.

Gut microbiome. Early-stage, worth noting with caution. Emerging research suggests that acupuncture may influence gut microbiome composition, thereby affecting metabolism. Plausible given its established effects on gut motility and the gut-brain axis - but not yet established enough to be a primary argument.

Thyroid function. Subclinical hypothyroidism - TSH slightly elevated, symptoms present, not yet at the medication threshold - is a common and commonly overlooked driver of weight resistance. Acupuncture's emerging evidence for thyroid support is relevant here.

Sleep. Poor sleep disrupts ghrelin and leptin, raises cortisol, and degrades the decision-making capacity that dietary consistency requires. Acupuncture's benefits for sleep quality may be its most practically significant contribution to weight management - more so than any direct appetite effect.

What Acupuncture Can Realistically Do

Support appetite regulation and reduce cravings - particularly in patients whose eating behavior is driven by stress, anxiety, or emotional patterns.

Improve metabolic function in patients with identifiable TCM patterns - particularly Spleen deficiency and Phlegm-Damp accumulation. Not by burning calories, but by improving the efficiency of the body's own processing and fluid metabolism.

Reduce cortisol-driven abdominal weight gain through HPA axis regulation - meaningful for patients who carry weight disproportionately around the midsection and whose weight gain tracks closely with periods of high stress.

Improve sleep quality, with its downstream benefits for hunger hormones, energy for activity, and the cognitive clarity that supports better food choices.

Address underlying hormonal imbalances - thyroid, insulin resistance, and estrogen dominance - that contribute to weight resistance. This is arguably where acupuncture earns its place most clearly: not as a weight loss tool per se, but as a tool for improving the metabolic and hormonal conditions that have been working against the patient's efforts.

Support the emotional and motivational dimensions of a weight management effort - the anxiety, the discouragement, the stress that both drives eating and undermines consistency. These are real obstacles, and acupuncture's effects on mood and nervous system regulation are genuinely useful in addressing them.

Reduce systemic inflammation, which is increasingly understood as both a contributing cause and a consequence of excess body weight, and which acupuncture consistently demonstrates the ability to modulate.

What Acupuncture Cannot Do

Acupuncture alone cannot put you in a caloric deficit, which is what you need for weight loss. No needle, herb, or supplement changes that equation. It's not a substitute for that classic "eat less, move more" advice, nor is it a substitute for pharmaceutical intervention, if recommended by your physician. GLP-1 medications are producing significant, clinically documented weight loss outcomes. Pretending acupuncture belongs in the same category would be dishonest.

What actually tells patients who ask: acupuncture can support your effort in specific, meaningful ways - stress, sleep, appetite regulation, hormonal balance. It works alongside the fundamentals, not instead of them.

Patients who find that disappointing usually weren't going to get what they were looking for anyway. Patients who find it refreshing - because it's the first straight answer they've received - are usually the ones who make real progress.

Key Acupuncture Points for Weight Management

ST 36 (Zusanli) - below the knee on the outer leg. Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi, supports metabolic function, and reduces fatigue, making it harder to sustain exercise and maintain a consistent diet. One of the most studied points in relation to metabolic and immune effects.

SP 6 (Sanyinjiao) - below the inner ankle. Addresses Spleen deficiency, supports fluid metabolism, and simultaneously influences the Liver and Kidneys. Essential for Phlegm-Damp patterns and for patients with a hormonal component to their weight concerns.

ST 40 (Fenglong) - the primary point in the TCM pharmacopeia for resolving Phlegm and Damp accumulation. For the most common weight-related TCM pattern, this point is close to indispensable.

CV 12 (Zhongwan) - on the midline of the upper abdomen. Regulates Stomach function, improves digestive metabolism, and is particularly useful for patients with bloating, slow digestion, and Spleen-centered presentations.

CV 6 (Qihai) - below the navel. Tonifies overall Qi and Yang energy, supports the metabolic vitality that underlies sustained effort and recovery.

LI 4 (Hegu) - on the hand, between the thumb and index finger. Reduces Stomach Heat and excessive appetite when that pattern is present; also a powerful anti-inflammatory point.

Liv 3 (Taichong) - on the top of the foot. Smooths Liver Qi Stagnation, directly addressing the stress-driven and emotional eating patterns that derail so many weight management efforts.

Auricular (ear) acupuncture - ear points including Shen Men, Hunger, Endocrine, and Stomach are frequently incorporated into weight management protocols and have the most dedicated research specifically targeting appetite. The honest assessment: ear acupuncture shows modest, real effects on appetite and cravings in some patients - particularly those with stress-driven eating patterns - but it is not, on its own, a weight loss intervention. It's a useful adjunct tool, not a headline treatment.

A Whole-Person Approach to Sustainable Weight Management

Weight is not a willpower problem. It's a metabolic, hormonal, neurological, and psychological phenomenon, and Dr. Xu's approach starts by identifying which of those dimensions are actually driving the issue.

Thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, cortisol-driven fat storage, disrupted sleep, and emotional eating aren't separate problems. They're all interconnected, and Dr. Jun Xu's treatment plans reflect that. Depending on the patient's needs, his treatment plans can include:

He's equally direct about limits. If the clinical picture warrants a thyroid panel, a fasting insulin test, or a pharmacological intervention, he says so. The patient who benefits most from this approach isn't looking for an easy answer - they're looking for a more complete one.

Schedule a Consultation

If you've been doing the right things and still feel like your body is working against you - if stress, poor sleep, hormonal imbalance, or emotional eating patterns have been undermining your efforts - welcomes you for an honest, thorough conversation about what acupuncture can and cannot offer you. To schedule your initial consultation or learn more, visit his professional profile or contact the office directly.

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Acupuncture for Weight Loss: What to Know

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Can acupuncture help you lose weight? Dr. Jun Xu gives an honest, evidence-based answer on what needles can and can’t do for weight management.

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Acupuncture for Hormonal Imbalances: Beyond Fertility

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Acupuncture for Hormonal Imbalances: Beyond Fertility

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Acupuncture for Hormonal Imbalances: PCOS, Thyroid & Menopause

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From PCOS to perimenopause, Dr. Jun Xu explains how acupuncture supports hormonal balance and what the research actually shows.

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Acupuncture for Digestive Issues: Can Needles Help Your Gut?

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Acupuncture for Digestive Issues: Can Needles Help Your Gut?

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Acupuncture for Digestive Issues: Can Needles Help Your Gut? - Dr Jun Xu

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Why Your Gut Deserves More Attention Than You’re Giving ItWhat TCM Says About Digestive HealthHow Acupuncture Actually Works on Your Digestive SystemCalming the gut-brain axisReducing visceral hypersensitivityLowering systemic inflammationAddressing the stress connectionConditions That Respond Well to AcupunctureIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Functional DyspepsiaChronic NauseaAcid Reflux and GERDInflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)Key Acupuncture Points for Digestive ReliefWhat the Research

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Press and Media Greenwich Times: Acupuncture joins options of couples hoping to conceiveDr. Jun Xu poses beside acupuncture charts in his office at Rehabilitation Medicine & Acupuncture Center in the Riverside section of Greenwich, Conn. Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Dr. Xu offers acupuncture treatment for infertility, claiming that many patients have been successfully treated.

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Check out a Book from Dr. Jun Xu’s Extensive Library of Books he has Authored.Books Magic Needles: Feel Younger and Live Longer with AcupunctureFrank Murray opens the narrative with a history of acupuncture, then co-author Dr. Jun Xu explains how acupunctures “magic needles” release a natural energy that can alleviate even longstanding health conditions -

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Artby Jun Xu https://vimeo.com/1121575363?share=copy Africa Cries Out Learn more

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Africa Cries Out Donate Dr. Jun Xu is the Chairman and Founder of Africa Cries Out, a nonprofit dedicated to improving medical access and education in Senegal and Guinea Bissau. About Africa Cries Out Africa Cries Out (ACO) is a U.S.-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded by Dr. Jun Xu and mission partners to serve some

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Combined Chinese & Western Approach - Dr Jun Xu

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Blending the Strengths of Modern Medical ScienceCombined Chinese & Western Approach Dr. Jun Xu, MD, integrates Chinese and Western medical approaches to deliver comprehensive and personalized patient care. What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a treatment method rooted in traditional medical practices that involves the precise placement of fine needles into specific points on the body.

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Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Medicine - Dr Jun Xu

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Reduced Pain & Improved Quality of LifeAcupuncture & Rehabilitation Medicine Dr. Jun Xu, MD, specializes in Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Medicine to help patients restore function, reduce pain, and improve quality of life. Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Medicine Rehabilitation medicine, often called physical medicine or physiatry, is a specialty dedicated to restoring movement, function, and quality of

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Everything you need to know about Dr.Jun XuDoctor and Acupuncturist Dr. Jun Xu is a Medical Doctor and Acupuncturist dedicated to helping patients achieve relief from pain, improved function, and better overall health. What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a treatment method rooted in traditional medical practices that involves the precise placement of fine needles into

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Dr. Jun Xu is a Pain Management Specialist offering personalized care, advanced treatments, and comprehensive rehabilitation services.

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Pain Management and Acupuncture Specialist.

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Dr. Jun Xu is a board-certified physician, pain management specialist and the Founder of Rehabilitation Medicine and Acupuncture Center. Dr. Xu is also actively involved in global nonprofit work through his organization, Africa Cries Out (ACO).

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Dr. Jun Xu is a board-certified Pain Management Specialist and Doctor and Acupuncturist with decades of experience in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Known for his integrative approach, Dr. Xu…

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Dr. Jun Xu and Africa Cries Out Bring Hope and Healing to Senegal

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RIVERSIDE, CT / SENEGAL, WAF, August 21, 2025 /PRSearchEngine/ — Dr. Jun Xu, Chairman of Africa Cries Out (ACO) continues his mission to provide vital medical care and education to families living in extreme poverty in Senegal, West Africa.

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Dr. Jun Xu (drjunxu) - The United States (9 books)

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dr-jun-xu Publisher Publications - Issuu

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Dr. Jun Xu is a trusted Pain Management Specialist, Doctor and Acupuncturist, and expert in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, he combines a gentle, patient-focused approach with both Chinese and Western medicine to treat conditions like hip pain, back pain, cervical dystonia, and infertility. Offering services like acupuncture, facelifts, and acne treatments in Riverside, CT, Dr. Xu and his compassionate team focus on restoring comfort and improving function through personalized care.