Clinical observation on regulating the three energizer by acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture in treating abdominal obesity: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture for treatment of abdominal obesity under the theoretical guidance of regulating the three energizer. MethodsOne hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into acupoint catgut embedding group (group A), abdominal acupuncture group (group B), acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture group (group C) and blank control group (group D) based on blocked random method, with 30 cases each; the first three groups based on the principle of regulating three energizer were respectively given acupoint catgut embedding at Zhōngwăn (▪ CV 12), Tiānshū (▪ ST 25), Yīnjiāo (▪ CV 7), Zhīgōu (▪ TE 6), Guānyuán (▪ CV 4), Zúsānlī (▪ ST 36) with catgut embedding once every 7 days, three times for each course of treatment, abdominal acupuncture once every 3 days, seven times for each course of treatment. ResultsThe therapeutic effect of each group after treatment was respectively 46.7% (14/30), 43.3% (13/30), 76.7%(23/30) and 26.7% (8/30), with statistically significant difference. For comparison of waist circumference difference, there was no statistical significance between acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding group (P=0.54), and for comparison of weight difference, there was statistical significance in terms of therapeutic effect between acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture and A, B, D groups (4.49±0.59 vs 2.64±0.53, 2.87±0.44, 1.45±0.26, all P<0.05). ConclusionAcupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture had the best effect in terms of total effective rate for treatment of abdominal obesity, equivalent therapeutic effect to simple acupoint catgut embedding in terms of waist circumference reduction, and the best therapeutic effect in terms of weight reduction.