Introduction

Binge eating and food craving are common health conditions which have only raised in the past decade. They are evolved as the result of our stressful lifestyle and chinaging eating habits. Many people who suffer from binge eating and/or food craving often dismiss it as their "love for food" or "having a sweet teeth". However, binge eating and food craving are actual "health conditions" which should be treated and managed. they are often the indications to more serious health problems such as diabetes, overweight and obesity.

What is "binge eating" ?

From a clinical point of view, binge eating can be described as an abnormal eating behaviour which the person eats without control or sense of satisfaction.

What is "food craving"?

From a clinical point of view, food craving can be described as excessive thought about food outside the meal time.

Causes of Binge Eating & Food Craving

Common causes are:

Physical stress and anxiety (eg, stress and anxiety experienced by the body.

Emotional stress and anxiety (eg, excessive thinking and worrying)

Improper eating habit & diet

Depression

PMS

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms of binge eating and food craving include:

Uncontrolled eating

Excessive thought about food

Rapid and sudden weight gain

Feelings of "sluggish" and "heaviness" in the body

Poor digestion such as bloating, hiccup, belching and flatulence

Problem to lose weight

Emotional fluctuations

Feeling irritable

Poor sleep

Low energy and fatigue
 

Patho-physiological mechanism: (meaning what's happening in the body)

When you experience the above symptoms, many "bad reactions" are happening in the body. These include:

High levels of stress hormones especially adrenaline and cortisol are produced and circulating around in the body.

Your blood sugar level is in huge swing from high to low and vice versa.

A severe imbalance in the activities in your nervous system between para-sympathetic and sympathetic.

Wonder Medicine for Binge Eating & Food Craving

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment provide effective treatment for binge eating & sweet craving.

Clinical findings have shown that this is how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine does it: 
Correct the imbalance in the nervous activities

Reduce high levels of stress hormone in the body

Reduce stress, anxiety and tension in the body

Boosting energy through reducing tension and stress and regenerate harmony and sense of wellbeing

Related information: Self test for binge eating & food craving

References

Longman concise medical dictionary, 1994

Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ou Ming, 1995