Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation, abnormal fat distribution, and continuous weight gain caused by multiple physical and lifestyle factors. In clinical classification, obesity is divided into simple obesity and secondary obesity. Simple obesity refers to weight gain without identifiable underlying diseases, while secondary obesity is caused by clear organic or endocrine disorders.
From a TCM perspective, most obese patients present a syndrome of deficiency in root and excess in manifestation. The core causes of TCM obesity stem from long-term overconsumption of fatty, sweet, and greasy foods, coupled with prolonged sitting, lying down, and insufficient physical activity. This leads to stagnated qi movement, weakened visceral transportation and transformation, and internal accumulation of grease, phlegm, and dampness, resulting in excessive body fat and weight gain.
In addition, emotional injury causes liver qi stagnation and dysfunction of gallbladder dispersion. It further affects spleen transportation, disrupts qi ascent and descent, and hinders normal lipid metabolism, causing turbid fat retention and obesity. Long-term spleen and kidney qi deficiency leads to accumulated phlegm-dampness, unsmooth qi and blood circulation, and gradual qi stagnation and blood stasis, which worsen stubborn obesity.
Electroacupuncture Therapy I for Obesity
Acupoint Selection
Liangqiu (ST34), Gongsun (SP4), Tianshu (ST25), Zhigou (SJ6).
Operating Procedure
Use 1.5‑cun filiform needles for routine insertion until deqi sensation is obtained. Apply frequent lifting, thrusting, and high-frequency twisting manipulation to generate strong needling sensation. Connect the needles to an electroacupuncture device with continuous wave output, and adjust the current intensity to the patient’s tolerance level. Retain the needles for 30 minutes.
After needle removal, perform abdominal cupping therapy to further unblock meridians, resolve dampness, and accelerate fat metabolism. Treat once daily, with 15 sessions forming one complete treatment course.
Electroacupuncture Therapy II for Obesity
Main and Auxiliary Acupoints
Main body acupoints: Zhongwan (CV12), Tianshu (ST25), Shuidao (ST28), Qihai (CV6), Pishu (BL20), Weishu (BL21), Feishu (BL13), Zusanli (ST36), Yinlingquan (SP9).
Ear acupoints: Shenmen, Endocrine, Large Intestine, Abdomen, Brain.
Syndrome-based modified acupoints:
- Excessive hunger and polyphagia: Add Neiguan (PC6), Quchi (LI11); add Hunger Point and Lung point on the ear.
- Constipation: Add Zhigou (SJ6), Hegu (LI4); add Sanjiao Point and Lung point on the ear.
- Irregular menstruation: Add Shenshu (BL23), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
- Excessive sweating: Add Hegu (LI4), Fuliu (KI7).
Operating Procedure
Insert 1.5‑cun filiform needles and apply reinforcing or reducing manipulation according to individual TCM syndrome patterns. Connect Zhongwan (CV12), Tianshu (ST25), and Shuidao (ST28) to the electroacupuncture device with dense-sparse wave stimulation, retaining needles for 30 minutes.
After removing the abdominal needles, insert needles into back-shu acupoints with mild even reinforcing and reducing manipulation, retaining for 15 minutes. Treat once daily for the first 10 days, then once every other day. Twenty sessions constitute one full course of TCM acupuncture weight loss.
Apply magnetic bead press therapy on selected ear acupoints. Press each acupoint for 5 to 7 minutes before meals or during hunger. Replace ear beads every 3 to 5 days, alternating between the two ears to sustain continuous metabolic regulation.
Therapeutic Mechanism & Efficacy of Electroacupuncture for Weight Loss
Electroacupuncture for obesity effectively regulates human nervous and endocrine functions to achieve natural, healthy weight loss. It inhibits excessive gastric emptying, reduces hunger sensation, curbs overeating, and decreases excessive nutrient intake from the source. Meanwhile, TCM electroacupuncture accelerates systemic energy metabolism, boosts calorie consumption, and promotes subcutaneous fat decomposition, delivering a total effective rate of 80% to 90% for obesity treatment.
For standard weight loss results, patients can lose 3 to 5 kilograms in the first treatment course, which is the ideal and stable weight loss range. Rapid excessive weight loss will disrupt basal metabolism and easily cause weight rebound, resulting in unsatisfactory long-term outcomes.
Clinical Treatment Principles & Course Arrangement
During acupuncture weight loss treatment, appropriately tolerable current intensity is recommended to ensure sufficient meridian stimulation. Longer standardized treatment courses yield more stable and lasting weight loss effects. It is clinically recommended to complete 3 consecutive treatment courses.
If weight loss progress remains steady, courses can be conducted continuously without intervals. If weight loss stagnates during treatment, rest for 5 to 7 days or longer before continuing. Even if obvious weight loss is achieved after 1 to 2 courses, finishing the full 3-course cycle is essential to consolidate metabolic regulation.
After reaching the ideal target weight, continue with 1 to 2 consolidation courses of TCM acupuncture therapy to adjust body constitution, stabilize metabolism, and prevent weight rebound.
TCM Syndrome Differentiation for Obesity Treatment
Most obese patients belong to the mixed deficiency and excess syndrome, featuring root deficiency and superficial excess. Effective acupuncture treatment for obesity focuses on tonifying the kidney and spleen, eliminating phlegm and turbidity, and matching acupoints based on accurate syndrome differentiation.
Precise TCM differentiation and multi-meridian, multi-acupoint holistic matching directly determine the final curative effect. Comprehensive point selection targeting visceral function, meridian unblocking, and fat metabolism is the core of successful TCM weight loss therapy.