-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The current study was designed to test the efficacy of different materials used in an auricular acupressure program on weight reduction, changes to waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. This study used a randomized design with two groups who were treated with auricular acupressure using Semen Vaccariae or the Japanese Magnetic Pearl. Both groups consisted of Asian young adults with a waist circumference ≥ 80 cm in the females and ≥ 90 cm in the males. At completion of the eight-week treatment period, the total sample size was 56 young adults who ranged in age from 18 to 20 years old. Each participant was met with weekly for ten-minute sessions during which ear acupressure treatment was performed. Sessions continued for eight weeks wherein both groups received acupressure with the Japanese Magnetic Pearl or Semen Vaccariae on the ear acupoints. While both groups showed significant reductions (p ≤ 0.05) to body weight and waist circumference after eight weeks of treatments, the group treated with Semen Vaccariae group showed a more effective weight loss over the short term. Given that auricular acupressure is a safe and cost-effective treatment for weight loss, our results suggest that auricular acupressure is a reasonable option for the treatment of overweight and obesity in young adults.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 01/2012; 40(4):713-20. · 1.98 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The current study was designed to test the efficacy of auricular acupressure on weight reduction and changes of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. This study used a randomized design with one control group and one experimental group consisting of Asian young adults with a waist circumference ≥80 cm in the females and ≥90cm in the males. At completion of eight weeks of auricular therapy, the total sample size was 55 young adults who ranged in age from 18 to 20 years old. Each participant was treated weekly for ear acupressure in ten-minute sessions. Sessions continued for eight weeks wherein the control group received acupressure only while the experimental group received acupressure with the Japanese Magnetic Pearl on the ear acupoints. While both the control and treatment groups showed significant reduction (p ≤ 0.05) to body weight and waist circumference after eight weeks of treatment, only the group treated with Japanese Magnetic Pearls showed decreased waist to hip ratio. Thus, auricular acupressure may be a beneficial addition to weight loss programs for young adults. Auricular acupressure is thus a reasonable option in the treatment of overweight and obesity in young adults.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 01/2011; 39(3):433-40. · 1.98 Impact Factor
-
Ching Hsiu Hsieh
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Auricular acupressure is widely used to reduce body weight. The current study was designed to test the efficacy of auricular acupressure on weight reduction and serum total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), high density lipids (HDL) and low density lipids (LDL) in an eight-week, randomized controlled trial of three groups of 84 adolescents aged 18-20 with a body mass index (BMI) of 23 or higher. The control group received tape treatment only and the other two experimental groups were administered acupressure using either Japanese Magnetic Pearls or vaccaria seeds. All three groups were educated on reduced calorie diets, physical activity, weight loss, and lifestyle modification. During the eight-week trial, all participants were seen weekly for 10 min per session. Anthropometric measurements of BMI and TC, TG, HDL, and LDL were performed at weeks 0 and 8 for all participants. Changes in BMI, TC, TG, HDL, and LDL were calculated from baseline to trial completion. BMI was significantly increased in the control group by +0.0457 (p < 0.0001), it was decreased in the Japanese Magnetic Pearl group by -0.6982 (p < 0.0001) and the vaccaria seed group by -1.2341 (p < 0.0001). All three groups showed significant increases in TC, TG, HDL, and LDL. In conclusion, the current study shows that auricular acupressure employing Japanese Magnetic Pearls or vaccaria seeds can decrease BMI, with the vaccaria seed method showing the greatest reduction. Auricular acupressure did not result in decreased TC, TG, HDL, or LDL in the current eight-week protocol.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 01/2010; 38(4):675-82. · 1.98 Impact Factor
