Asian J Beauty Cosmetol. 2010; 8(2): 223-229.

The effect of abdominal obesity management using the stone-therapy in Korean middle-aged women

Chae-Jeong Han, You-Kyoung Jung, and Eun-Hee Kim

Stone therapy is one of the natural therapies using the principle of 'homeostasis' of the human body. The study was conducted to investigate scientific ground of stone therapy which serves to improve abdominal obesity in middle-aged women. A total of ten middle-aged women(over BMI 25) were included in this study. The stone therapy was provided with 16 times during 8 weeks(2 times/week). Anthropometric(weight, BMI, body fat percent, body fat, lean body mass, WHR, waist circumference) and biochemical(fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, C-reactive protein) assessments were undertaken at baseline and after 8 weeks. After completing the stone therapy, weight(p<0.01), BMI(p<0.01), body fat percent(p<0.01), body fat(p<0.01), WHR(p<0.05), waist circumference(p<0.01) was significantly decreased. Also, a significant decrease in total cholesterol(p<0.01), triglyceride(p<0.01) and C-reactive protein(p<0.05). These favorable results indicate that stone therapy have contributed to a beneficial change in anthropometry and biochemical index for management to abdominal obesity. We suggest more and deeper study are necessary to ensure systematic management program using stone therapy for abdominal obesity.

Keywords : Stone massage, Abdominal obesity, Middle-aged women