Why willpower isn’t the problem—and what Chinese medicine understands about your sweet tooth
It’s the first week of January. You’ve committed to eating better, cutting back on sugar, finally breaking the afternoon cookie habit. And for a few days, it works.
Then 3pm hits. You’re tired. Stressed. And suddenly that chocolate in the breakroom is all you can think about.
If this sounds familiar, I want you to know something: this isn’t a willpower problem.
Sugar cravings are your body trying to communicate. And when we understand what it’s actually asking for—through both modern neuroscience and ancient Chinese medicine—we can finally respond in a way that creates lasting change.
What Your Nervous System Is Really Asking For
When you’re stressed, exhausted, or running on fumes, your nervous system shifts into survival mode. In this state, your brain is scanning for the fastest possible source of energy and relief.
Sugar fits the bill perfectly. It spikes dopamine (your reward chemical), gives you a quick hit of glucose, and temporarily soothes the nervous system. Your brain isn’t being weak—it’s being efficient. It’s choosing the fastest path to feeling okay.
The problem is that this quick fix creates a cycle: spike, crash, crave, repeat. And the more dysregulated your nervous system becomes, the louder those cravings get.
This is why trying to white-knuckle your way through cravings rarely works long-term. You’re fighting against a nervous system that’s genuinely trying to help you survive.
The Chinese Medicine Perspective: Your Spleen Is Talking
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sugar cravings are intimately connected to the Spleen and Stomach—the organs of the Earth element.
The Spleen, in TCM, is responsible for transforming the food you eat into usable energy (what we call Qi). When the Spleen is strong and balanced, you feel nourished, grounded, and satisfied after eating. Your energy is steady throughout the day.
When the Spleen is depleted—from stress, overthinking, irregular eating, or too much cold and raw food—it struggles to do its job. You might feel:
Fatigue, especially after eating
Bloating or sluggish digestion
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
A heavy, waterlogged feeling in your body
And yes—intense cravings for sweets
Here’s the beautiful wisdom of TCM: the sweet flavor naturally nourishes the Spleen. Your body craves sweetness because it’s trying to support an organ that needs help.
The problem is that refined sugar—while sweet—actually depletes the Spleen further. It creates dampness in the body, which makes the Spleen work harder, which increases cravings, which leads to more sugar… and the cycle continues.
How Acupuncture Breaks the Cycle
Acupuncture works on multiple levels to address sugar cravings—not by suppressing them, but by addressing what’s driving them in the first place.
Regulating Your Nervous System
Acupuncture activates your parasympathetic nervous system—the “rest and digest” state. When your nervous system feels safe, it stops sending urgent signals for quick-fix energy sources. Many patients notice that after a few sessions, the urgency of cravings softens. The chocolate is still there, but it’s no longer screaming at you.
Strengthening the Spleen
Using specific acupuncture points, we can tonify (strengthen) the Spleen and improve its ability to transform food into energy. Points like Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zhongwan (CV12) are frequently used to support digestion and build steady, sustainable energy. When your Spleen is functioning well, your body stops crying out for sweets to compensate.
Balancing Blood Sugar
Research has shown that acupuncture can help regulate blood glucose levels by influencing insulin sensitivity and pancreatic function. When your blood sugar is more stable, you experience fewer crashes—and fewer desperate reaches for something sweet.
Supporting Dopamine Regulation
Studies suggest acupuncture may influence dopamine pathways, helping to reduce the intensity of reward-seeking behavior. This doesn’t mean you’ll never want something sweet again—it means you’ll have more choice in how you respond.
Beyond the Treatment Table: Supporting Yourself Daily
Acupuncture is powerful, but what you do between sessions matters too. Here are some gentle ways to support your Spleen and nervous system:
Eat warming, naturally sweet foods
The Spleen loves warmth. Cooked vegetables, soups, stews, and warm grains are easier to digest and more nourishing than cold, raw foods—especially in winter. Naturally sweet foods like sweet potato, squash, carrots, and cooked apples satisfy the Earth element without depleting it.
Eat at regular times
The Spleen thrives on rhythm. Irregular eating, skipped meals, and eating late at night all weaken digestive energy. Even small shifts—like eating breakfast within an hour of waking—can make a noticeable difference.
Lower the barrier to healthy eating
When you’re tired and your Spleen is depleted, you’re not going to spend an hour cooking. This is when convenience matters. Having nourishing, ready-to-eat meals on hand can be the difference between reaching for sugar and reaching for something that actually supports you.
I’ve been using Thistle for this—their meals are warming, plant-forward, and ready in minutes. Having a fresh, balanced meal in my fridge takes the decision fatigue out of eating well. [As a Calm patient, you can use code XXXX for $XX off your first order.]
Rest before you’re exhausted
Overthinking and mental exhaustion deplete the Spleen. Rest isn’t just sleep—it’s moments of pause throughout your day. A five-minute break without your phone. A slow lunch instead of eating at your desk. These small deposits add up.
A Different Approach to Change
If you’ve tried to cut sugar through sheer determination and found yourself back at square one, please know: there’s nothing wrong with you.
Your body was asking for support, not discipline.
Acupuncture offers a different path—one where we work with your body’s wisdom rather than against it. Where we address the root of the craving, not just the craving itself. Where lasting change becomes possible because your nervous system and your digestion are finally getting what they need.
If you’re curious whether acupuncture could help with your sugar cravings—or any habits you’ve been struggling to shift—I’d love to talk.
