ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo compare the therapeutic efficacies between acupoint thread embedding plus Western medication and dry Western medication in treating metabolic syndrome.MethodTotally 320 patients with metabolic syndrome were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 160 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by ordinary Western medication, while the treatment group was by acupoint thread embedding in addition to the Western medication given to the control group, and Yishu (Extra), Geshu (BL17), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), Tianshu (ST25), Daimai (GB26), and Guanyuan (CV4) were selected as the major points. The therapeutic efficacies, metabolism-related parameters, liver function, and kidney function were compared between the two groups, and the therapeutic efficacies of different syndromes were also compared.ResultThe markedly effective rate and total effectiverate of the treatment group were significantly higher than that of the control group (P0.05), but there were significant inter-group differences in comparing the rest parameters including liver and kidney functions (P<0.05), and the treatment group was superior to the control group. Acupoint thread embedding produced a more significant efficacy in treating metabolic syndrome due to heat in liver-stomach and phlegm-dampness stagnancy compared to the control group (P<0.05), and the efficacy of acupoint thread embedding in treating metabolic syndrome due to phlegm-dampness stagnancy was significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01).ConclusionAcupoint thread embedding plus Western medication can produce a more significant therapeutic efficacy in treating metabolic syndrome compared to Western medication alone, and it’s safe; of all the patterns, phlegm-dampness stagnancy responds thebest to acupoint thread embedding.