Acupuncture & Obesity

Treatment method:

Body acupuncture consisted of the following main points:

Tian Shu (St 25)

Xia Wan (CV 10)

Shi Men (CV 5)

Da Ju (St 27)

Auxiliary points consisted of:

Zu San Li (St 36)

San Yin Jiao (Sp 6)

Feng Long (St 40)

Qu Chi (LI 11)

Nei Guan (Per 6)

He Gu (LI 4)

One and a half inch fine needles were used to needle these points.
After obtaining the qi, draining technique was used with strong
stimulation. The needles were stimulated every 10 minutes while in
place, and they were retained for 30 minutes each treatment. One
such treatment was done per day, with 10 treatments equaling one
course of therapy. After withdrawing the needles, the abdomen was
massaged using several different manipulations for an unspecified
period of time.

Ear acupuncture consisted of the following main

points:

Endocrine

Three burners

Subcortex

Hunger point

Mouth

Brain point

Auxiliary ear points included:

Stomach

Liver

Kidneys

Lungs

Large Intestine

Depending on the patients pattern discrimination and condition,

Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae Segetalis) were taped over
several of these points which the patient was instructed to press
40-50 times each day, pressing until the ear became red and hot.
These points were alternated from one ear to the other once every
three days. It was forbidden to use points on both ears at the same
time.

Study outcomes:

Cure was defined as achievement of a BMI after treatment of less

than 25. Marked effect was defined as a weight loss of more than
5kg. Some effect was defined as a weight loss of 2kg or more, and
no effect meant that there was no improvement in weight. Based on
these criteria, three cases (15%) were judged cured, 11 cases (55%)
got a marked effect, and six cases (30%) got some effect. Thus the
total effectiveness rate was 100%.

Discussion:

According to Dr. Sun, in Chinese medicine, fat is categorized as a

species of heavy phlegm, turbidity, and dampness. It is formed
due to non-transformation of righteous fluids and humors. These

collect and accumulate and produce fat. For instance, if the three
burners qi transformation does not diffuse due to the lungs,
spleen, and/or kidneys regulation, movement, conduction,
transportation, streaming, and transforming losing their duty, there
will be yang vacuity and yin exuberance. Water rheum and phlegm
turbidity collect internally, and this leads to the creation of fat.
Thus we can see that obesity is closely associated with loss of
regulation of the lungs, spleen, kidneys, and three burners, and, of
these, it is most closely associated with the spleen. Therefore,
within the above protocol, the main points are all located on the foot
yang ming stomach channel, the foot tai yin spleen channel, and
the conception vessel. These points are able to fortify the spleen and
boost the stomach, transform phlegm and eliminate dampness.
Massage on the abdominal region can course and free the flow of
the spleen-stomach channel and network vessel qi and blood,
disperse food and abduct stagnation, and stimulate the metabolism.
A large amount of scientific research has made it clear that the
combination of body acupuncture and ear acupuncture can
increase and strengthen the bodys hypophysal-pituitary-adrenal
cortex and sympathetic-adrenal system functions, thus promoting
the bodys metabolism of fat as well as controlling appetite.
Therefore, Dr. Sun believes that the combination of body and ear
acupuncture for the treatment of simple obesity is quite good. In
addition, it is without side effects.