OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture plus ear point tapping and pressing therapy and simple medicine for slimming and to probe the mechanism.

METHODSFifty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 25 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated with body acupuncture and electroacupuncture at Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Feng-long (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36), etc., combined with ear point sticking and pressing at Shenmen, Nei-fenmi (endocrine), Pi (spleen), Wei (stomach), Sanjiao (triple energy), Dachang (large intestine), etc.. The medication group were treated with oral administration of Sibutramine, once each day, 10 mg each time. Serum insulin contents before and after treatment were detected, and the therapeutic effect for slimming was assessed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 88.0% in the acupuncture group and 80.0% in the medication group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05); after treatment, the serum insulin levels in the two groups significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the decrease of insulin level in the acupuncture group was significantly better than that in the medication group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with ear point tapping and pressing therapy has a similar therapeutic effect to western medicine for slimming, but the former is better than the later in improving serum insulin level.