Ninety cases of simple obesity treated with the combined therapy of penetration needling, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture

Abstract Objective To observe the clinical effects on simple obesity treated with the combined therapy of penetration needling, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture. Methods In 90 patients of simple obesity, the Bo's abdominal acupuncture therapy was adopted. Taking Shenque (神阙 CV 8), the points 2 cun directly below CV 8 and 2 cun directly above CV 8 as the landmarks, 3 cun bilateral to each of the above three points, and penetrated through to the conception vessel. Then the electroacupuncture apparatus was connected, with the disperse-dense wave for 30 min. After acupuncture, the glass cup of the middle size was used to stimulate the selected points with the flash-fire cupping method. The cupping stimulation stopped when the skin turned to be slightly red. One treatment was given each day and every other day after 5 days. The 10 treatments made one course. In the auricular acupuncture therapy, Jīdiăn (饥点), Shenmen (神门TF4), Neifēnmi (内分泌CO18) and Sānjiāo (三焦 CO17) were selected. The auricular acupuncture therapy was given once every two days and 10 treatments made one course. After 3 courses of treatment, the waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight and body mass index (BMI) were observed. Results Compared to before treatment, after 3 courses of treatment, the waist circumference of patients was (92.3 ± 2.4 vs 80.4 ± 2.3) cm, hip circumference (110.6 ± 2.3 vs 99.2 ± 2.5) cm, body weight (74.2 ± 3.1 vs 68.2 ± 2.4) kg and BMI (29.8 ± 3.1 vs 25.2 ± 2.1), they were all reduced obviously, indicating the significant differences (all P  Conclusion The combined therapy of penetration needling at abdomen, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture achieves the significant therapeutic effects on simple obesity.