Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1996 ; 21(2): 19-24.

[The antiobesity effect of acupuncture and it's influence on water and salt metabolism]

Sun F.

Nanjing College for Population Administrators.

For the purpose of understanding the antiobesity effect of acupuncture and it's influence on water and salt metabolism in the patients suffering from simple obesity, we have observed the changes of symptoms and signs, obesity indices, blood sodium, blood potassium, mOsm of plasma and urinary aldosterone before and after acupuncture treatment in 75 patients with simple obesity (12 cases with edema, 33 cases without edema). The results showed that the total effective rate of antiobesity treatment for one month was 89.3%. Before acupuncture the concentrations of blood sodium and aldosterone of the patients with edema were significantly higher than those of normal persons or the patients without edema, but the concentration of blood potassium and mOsm of plasma of the patients with edema were significantly lower than those of normal persons or the patients without edema. After acupuncture treatment the concentrations of blood sodium and aldosterone decreased markedly and the concentration of blood potassium and mOsm of plasma increased remarkably in the patients with edema. It indicated that acupuncture treatment not only had a good antiobesity effect, but also improved the water and salt metabolism of the patients with obesity by the regulation of nervous system and body fluid.