Objective: l50 cases of simple obesity have been treated with acupuncture in combination with auricle acu-pressure since l996.

Methods: Prescription of acupoints is made in light of syndrome differentiation. Primary points include Tianshu (ST 25), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Neiting (ST 44), Quchi (LI 1l), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Hegu (LI4), Shuidao (ST28), and Zhigou (TE 6). Some points are supplemented according to the syndrome differentiation. For the syndrome of "retained heat in stomach": Shangjuxu (ST 37), Neiting(ST 44), Quchi (LI ll) and Tianshu (ST 25), are selected in combination with auricular points External Nose and Lung. For the syndrome of “Constipation due to intestinal dryness":Quchi (LI ll), Tianshu (ST 25), Zhigou (TE 6), and ZhongWan (RN l2) are selected while the auricular points are Large Intestine, Lung, Spleen and Sanjiao (Triple Energizer). For the syndrome of "damp-heat in small intestine": Xiajuxu(ST 39), Neiting (ST 44), Quchi (LI ll), Qiangu .(SI 2),Shuidao (ST 28), and auricular points Sanjiao (Triple Energizer), Stomach, Small Intestine, and Endocrine are combined. The performance is: auricular points are stuck with Wangbuliuxing (Semen Vaccariae) by adhesive plaster. Patients press the seeds themselves 3 times a day 3 minutes each time. 2 ears are alternated for every third day. The body acupuncture is done for 30 sessions as l course of treatment. The first 3 sessions are given consecutively everyday and needles are deeply thrusted and retained for 30 minutes each time. During the retention of needles manipulation with lifting-thrusting and rotation of needles is given. The arrival of Qi is required. The patients are treated for every second day from the 4th session and then twice a week from the l6thday. Auricular acu-pressure is combined with body acupuncture.
　　
Result: In conformity to the criterion set up by National Obesity Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, l6 cases are cured for a short-term, 66 cases are markedly effective, 63 are improved, and 5 unchanged. The total effective rate is up to 96.67%.

Conclusion: It is indicated by clinical practice that acupuncture has fairly good weight-reducing effect in treating simple obesity due to the neuroendocrine regulation, on one hand, acupuncture can inhibit the patients' hyperorxia decrease the intake of energy by means of inhibiting the digestive functions, readjust the feeding center of hypothalamus to block the transmission of hunger message to the hypothalaxnus, and renormalize the autonomic nerve dysfunction by inhibiting the excitation of the sympathetic nerve and reinforce that of the parasympathetic nerve; and on the other hand, acupuncture could activate the metabolism of energy increase the energy consumption, and speed up the lipid catabolism, hence the weight-reducing effect. This method is also free of the side effect resulting from the simple hunger therapy, medication, and overdose of exercise, thus is worthy of being popularized.

(By Wu Lijun, from Department of Acupuncture in Hospital of Nankai University Tianjin 30007l, China)