OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy difference in weight gain between auricular point sticking and the combined therapy of auricular point sticking and body acupuncture, as well as the efficacy difference among various body constitutions.

METHODSOne hundred cases of weight gain were randomized into two groups, auricular point sticking group (group A) and the combined therapy of auricular point sticking and body acupuncture group (group B), 50 cases in each one. In group A, semen vaccariae was fixed with plaster on the spleen, stomach, endocrine, small intestine, buttocks, tibia, forearm, etc. in the ear. Each point was pressed 3 times daily, for 5 mm each time. The ear-points on two sides were alternated every two days. In group B, the auricular point sticking and body acupuncture were applied. The ear points and manipulation were same as the previous. Body points were Zhongwan (CV 12), (Juanyuan (CV 4), Tiansho (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. Acupuncture was applied with filiform needle, once every two days. The changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI) were observed after 20 treatments.

RESULTS(1) The total effective rate was 94.0% (47/50) in group A and was 98.0% (49/50) in group B, without statistical significant difference (P > 0.05). The comparison of mean body weight and mean BMI after intervention did not show statistical significance between two groups (both P > 0.05), indicating that the simple auricular point sticking could achieve the same effect as the combined therapy. (2) There was no statistical significant difference in the total effective rate between the thin persons with spleen and stomach deficiency constitution and those with normal constitution among 100 cases (P > 0.05). But, the remarkable effective rates were different significantly in statistics (P < 0.05). For the thin persons with spleen and stomach deficiency constitution, after treatment, the body weight increased in big amplitude, but those with normal constitution increased in small amplitude or had no change.

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of the simple auricular point sticking on weight gain is same as the combined therapy of auricular point sticking and body acupuncture, and is much better for the cases with spleen and stomach deficiency constitution.