Sixty-two cases of simple obesity treated by acupuncture combined with massage

By: Bei Yongshun

Obesity falls into the TCM category of phlegm-dampness. In this series, all 62 cases of simple obesity were females with ages ranging from 23 to 52 years (mean 37 years) and duration of illness from 6 years to 27 years (mean 16 years). Of the 62 cases, 58 were moderately obese with a body weight 30-50% more than the standard weight, and a fat percentage 35%-45% more than standard. The 62 cases were divided into two groups: 32 cases treated by auricular seed-embedding plus massage
, and 30 cases treated by seed-embedding therapy plus acupuncture. For the first group, the auricular points of Mouth and Endocrine were selected; for the second group, the auricular points of Lung, Cardia and Subcortex were selected. After vaccaria seeds were embedded, points were pressed for 20 minutes before each meal, 5 minutes each time, until a hot-distending sensation was felt locally. The two sets of auricular points were used on alternate weeks for the two groups, 8 weeks constituting a course. In the acupuncture group, bilateral Tianshu ST-25, Neiguan P-6, Fenglong ST-40, Zusanli ST-36 and Sanyinjiao SP-6 were selected as the main points and needled with moderate stimulation. The needles were retained for 30 minutes. The treatment was given 3 times a week, 8 weeks forming a course. In the second group, pinching spine manipulation was used with the patient in a prone position. The radial aspects of both thumbs of the practitioner are placed against each side of the spinal column of the patient, and the thumb, index and middle fingers used to pinch the skin and move upwards from the sacral region to the neck. The manipulation was repeated 5 times in each treatment. The above treatment was given 3 times a week, 8 weeks forming a course. Additionally, the patient was asked to put her palm on the abdomen and rub around the umbilicus clockwise for 5 minutes, and then contra-clockwise for 5 minutes. The manipulation should be applied softly and gently with even force to create a warm sensation which penetrated the muscle layer. This manipulation was performed twice daily, with 8 weeks forming a course. Both groups were treated for two courses, with a one-week interval in between. Criteria for therapeutic effects: Markedly effective: body weight decrease of over 5kg, fat percentage decrease of over 5%, and basic disappearance of the related symptoms; Effective: body weight decrease of over 3kg, decrease of fat percentage, and alleviation of the related symptoms; ineffective: no decrease of body weight and fat percentage, and no alleviation of the related symptoms. Results of treatment: 22 cases were markedly effective (35.48%); 35 effective (56.45%); and 6 ineffective (9.68%), the total effective rate being 91.93%. The results for the acupuncture and massage group were remarkably similar and did not show any significant difference.