Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of warming needle moxibustion stimulation of Hegu(LI 4)

Tianshu(ST 25)

Zhongwan(CV 12)

Zusanli(ST 36)

etc.for simple obesity patients with phlegm dampness stagnation syndrome(PDSS).Methods A total of 60 simple obesity patients with PDSS were equally randomized into control group(13 men and 17 women

18-53 years in age)and treatment group(14 men and 16 women

19-45 years in age).All the patients of both groups were treated by diet control(trying their best to reduce high fat

high glucose and high salt foods

supplementing proteins).Patients of the treatment group received additional treatment of warming needle moxibustion

i.e.

the inserted acupuncture needles in bilateral Hegu(LI 4)

Tianshu(ST 25)

Zhongwan(CV 12)

and Zusanli(ST 36)

Fenglong(ST 40)

etc.

were manipulated for a while with reducing technique after"deqi"

followed by attachment of ignited moxa-cones at each of the needle handles for 30 min.The treatment was conducted once every other day for 8 weeks.The therapeutic effect was assessed according to the"Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Simple Obesity"(1998).Before and after the treatment

body fat percentage(F%)

body adiposity index(BAI)

and body mass index(BMI)were calculated

serum triglyceride(TG)

total cholesterol(CHO)

low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected using a biochemical analyzer.Results Following the treatment

of the two 30 cases of obesity patients in the control and treatment groups

0(0.0%)and 1(3.3%)was under control

11(36.7%)and 16(53.3%)had a marked improvement

8(26.7%)and 10(33.3%)were effective

and 11(36.7%)and 3(10.0%)failed in the treatment

with the effective rates being 63.3% and 90.0%

respectively.The effective rate of the warming needle moxibustion plus diet control was significantly superior to that of the simple diet control(P<0.01).After the treatment

the BMI

F%

serum CHO and TG levels and BAI in the treatment group were significantly decreased in comparison with its own pre-treatment in treatment group(P<0.05

P<0.01)

while serum HDL-C of the treatment group was obviously increased compared with its own pre-treatment(P<0.01).The decreased F%

CHO and TG levels were markedly lower in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion Warming needle moxibustion has a positive effect for simple obesity patients with PDSS in controlling their symptoms.