A new weight management treatment billed as the holistic answer to Ozempic has been launched by “hormone guru” Jennifer Young. Auricular (ear) Acupuncture for Weight Management is a unique system that addresses healthy weight management at a hormonal level. It will be available to consumers for the first time from 1 October at all branches of renowned UK spa group Champneys. 

The treatment supports clients by tackling underlying hormonal imbalances that may cause them to gain weight or to find weight loss or gain difficult.  The treatment is associated with a reduction in waist circumference and other markers of weight loss, has been demonstrated to reduce hunger caused by dietary restrictions, and can help control food consumption. 

Jennifer is widely known for her work in supporting hormone management in clients undergoing treatment for cancer and women going through the menopause.  Her expertise in understanding the critical role of hormones in health and wellbeing has led her to develop this new treatment to help those struggling with achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, without the use of drugs.    

Anorexiant drugs such as Ozempic, used as therapy for obesity, act on the brain to suppress appetite. They have a stimulant effect on the hypothalamic and limbic regions, which control satiety.  Auricular acupuncture works on the same principles as acupuncture, but needles are inserted into the ear only, stimulating up to 12 key points in the body depending on client needs, to balance 14 hormones that play a part in regulating satiety, energy expenditure, metabolism, and pleasure and motivation.    

Some key facts and benefits

• Among 20–30-year-old overweight females, a treatment of six weekly sessions of auricular acupuncture is associated with a reduction in waist circumference.
• Auricular acupuncture may have a potential beneficial effect on obesity-related hormone peptides (a significant increase in ghrelin level and decrease in leptin level).
• Both auricular acupuncture and acupressure seemed to be effective for weight loss, particularly for overweight patients.
• There was a statistically significant difference in the percentage change in body weight and active ghrelin levels in each individual participant in auricular acupuncture groups.
• Auricular acupuncture has been demonstrated to reduce hunger caused by dietary restrictions (with the aim of weight loss) and to help consciously control food consumption.

Jennifer Young’s proprietary protocol starts with an initial consultation to identify potential hormone imbalances, these are then addressed using auricular acupuncture points. During the treatment, small needles are inserted into the ears with the aim of bringing balance to the hormones associated with weight gain and loss.

As the patient enjoys their needle-induced relaxation, their specialist therapist massages the lower legs and feet. This purposeful touch concentrates on the stomach and spleen meridians as well as other areas associated with improving digestion.      

After the treatment, ear seeds are applied to keep pressure on the acupuncture points without penetrating the skin. After three days, these can be removed by the client peeling away the plaster housing the seed.