Eating Disorders

Acupuncture & Nutrition Clinic specializes in eating disorders and their treatment.

Dieting is a national obsession. At some point in time, almost every American goes on a diet; many develop various disorders that can seriously compromise their health.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are now suffering from disorders in the United States.

Acupuncture & Nutrition Clinic treats patients for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive or binge eating. For many patients, dieting is not the answer. Success is achieved by developing a life-long strategy for maintaining one’s health and understanding the emotional triggers that protract the illness.

Siegel Propis is the only registered dietitian in Texas who can treat patients utilizing Chinese and western food therapy with acupuncture and herbal formulations.

She has found a specialized approach to treating eating disorder patients with nutrition therapy along with acupuncture. The role of Chinese medicine, especially acupuncture, is invaluable because it uniquely addresses both the emotional and physical discomforts of various eating disorders.

Here are some Warning Signs that you or a loved one has a possible eating disorder and should seek treatment.

Bulimia Nervosa

Several or all of the following:

1. Usually within 15 pounds of normal body weight.
2. Fear of weight gain.
3. Distinct and often uncontrollable, secretive episodes of binge eating followed by attempts to purge through self-induced vomiting, unhealthy dieting and/or use of laxatives, diuretics, or diet aids.
4. Depression and recurrent mood swings.
5. Prolonged exercise for the purpose of weight control.
6. Inability to discontinue binge-purge cycle.
7. Problems with the throat, esophagus, stomach, and colon.
8. Edema and swelling of the parotid glands.
9. Emotional instability and impulsivity.
10. Dissatisfaction with body shape and preoccupation with becoming thin.
11. Frequent weight fluctuations.

Compulsive Overeating

Several or all of the following:

1. Use of food symptomatically & addictively to regulate feelings of anxiety, depression, emptiness.
2. Inability to stop eating, even when no physical hunger is present.
3. Preoccupation with food, weight, eating, and diets.
4. A series of diets, which may succeed temporarily, but ultimately fail.
5. Obesity.

Anorexia Nervosa

Several or all of the following:

1. Abnormal weight loss of ten percent or more with no known medical reason.
2. Restriction (reduction) of food intake.
3. Denial of hunger and/or the problem.
4. Decrease in the consumption of foods containing animal fat.
5. Intense fear of weight gain and/or a “grim determination” to become thinner.
6. Abnormal reproductive functioning, i.e. amenorrhea or low testosterone levels.
7. Prolonged exercising despite fatigue and weakness.
8. Peculiar patterns of handling food.
9. Inability to control weight loss and amount of exercise.
10. Social withdrawal.
11. Unusual sensitivity to the cold.
12. Perfectionism accompanied by a profound sense of ineffectiveness.
13. Weight loss through the use of vomiting, diuretics, and/or laxatives.
14. Lanugo: fine hair on the body surface.
15. Symptoms of starvation.

If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at the phone number below or use our convenient Contact Us form. We will reply to your questions as soon as possible.

Acupuncture & Nutrition Clinic
9660 Hillcroft, Suite 202
Houston, Texas 77096
Phone: 713-721-7755
Fax: 713-723-8065