OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupoint catgut embedding on height of adolescents with spleen qi deficiency.

METHODSThree hundred voluntary adolescents with spleen qi deficiency syndrome who want to increase height were stratified according to sex first, and then randomly divided into an observation group, a control group and a placebo group, 100 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with acupoint catgut embedding at Zusanli (ST 36), Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21) etc. The control group was treated with oral administration of Lysine Dicalcium Phosphate particles, and the placebo group was treated with oral administration of flour capsule. The height was measured and the therapeutic effects were detected after treatment of 3 months and 6 months respectively.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 95.0% (95/100) in the observation group was superior to that of 49.0% (49/100) in the control group and 0 (0/100) in the placebo group (both P < 0.05). The height increased more obviously in the observation group than that of the control group and the placebo group, there were significant differences among three groups (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint catgut embedding can increase the height and improve the symptoms of the adolescents with slow growth caused by spleen qi deficiency.