Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on the fatigue degree in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS).Methods Seventy CFS patients were equally randomized into control and treatment groups according to randomized block design.Acupuncture was applied to Baihui(GV 20)

Danzhong(CV 17)

Zhongwan(CV 12)

etc.

for patients in treatment group

and to non-acupoints(2 cm respectively to the abovementioned acupoints)for those in control group.The treatment was given once every other day

14 times altogether.The fatigue degree and the therapeutic effect were assessed by Chalder's fatigue scale(FS).Results A total of 64 cases(32/group)were finished in this study.After the treatment

the physical FS(5.0±2.4 vs 6.8±1.5)

mental FS(1.8±1.8 vs 3.1±1.5)and the total FS(6.8±3.8 vs 9.9±2.5)in treatment group

physical FS(5.0±2.5 vs 6.4±1.5)and the total FS(7.5±3.4 vs 9.6±2.8)in control group decreased significantly compared with pre-treatment(P<0.01

P<0.05).There was no marked change in mental FS(2.5±1.6 vs 3.2±1.6)in control group after the treatment(P>0.05).Comparison between two groups showed no significant differences in the 3 indexes(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can relieve CFS patients' physical and mental fatigue and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture of acupoints is relatively better than that of non-acupoints in reducing mental fatigue.