EFFECTS OF AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE STIMULATION ON NONOBESE, HEALTHY VOLUNTEER SUBJECTS

Effects of auricular acupuncture stimulation on nonobese healthy volun teers were investigated, Subjects (n=35) averaged 34.5 years old, and BMI was 25.3 kg/m(2). Small (0.15 x 2.0 mm) auricular needles were app lied intracutaneously into the bilateral cavum conchae that was identi fied by having less than 100 k Ohm resistance, Body weight was measure d four times a day and charted by the subjects themselves, Results sho wed that, in the period I1-2, in which only body weight was measured, without auricular acupuncture stimulations, 57.1% of the subjects redu ced their body weight, This indicates that charting body weight themse lves might be useful to maintain their weight, In the auricular acupun cture treated period, 19 (70.4%) out of 27 decreased (p<0.01), 5 (18.5 %) was increased, and 3 (11.1%) had no change in body weight, In concl usion, the results suggest that success in maintaining weight reductio n can be attributed to graphic illustration of one's weight pattern, B ilateral auricular acupuncture stimulation can also reduce body weight of healthy non-obese subjects, This is consistent with the suggestion that it might be effective in the treatment of obese patients.