Ear Acupuncture: Weight Loss and Lipid Profiles

Effects of Auricular Acupuncture on Anthropometric, Lipid Profile, Inflammatory, and Immunologic Markers: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study.
Abdi H, Abbasi-Parizad P, Zhao B, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Tavallaie S, Rahsepar AA, Parizadeh SM, Safariyan M, Nemati M, Mohammadi M, Darbandi M, Darbandi S, Ferns GA. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jul 12.
Abstract Objectives: A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed to examine the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture on body weight loss and its impact on lipid profile, and immunologic and inflammatory markers in obese subjects.   Comparison between cases and controls showed that authentic acupuncture was more effective in reducing the levels of anthropometric factors and anti-Hsp antibodies but not hs-CRP. Conclusions: Auricular acupuncture in combination with diet restriction was effective for weight loss and dyslipidemia. Moreover, it was found that it has immunomodulatory but not anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system by regulation of the levels of anti-Hsp antibodies.