Methods A total of 60 obese patients with PCOS of phlegm-dampness syndrome, who visited the Gynecology Outpatient Department and TCM Department of Liaobu Hospital in Dongguan City from January 2022 to June 2023, were selected. According to the random number table method, the patients were randomly divided into a control group (30 cases) and an observation group (30 cases). The control group was given oral metformin treatment, three times a day, 0.5 g each time, for three consecutive months. On the basis of the control group, the observation group was additionally treated with acupuncture combined with TCM decoction: acupuncture treatment was given once every other day. Two acupoint prescriptions were used alternately: prescription 1 included Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Zigong (EX-CA1), Guilai (ST 29), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), and Yinlingquan (SP 9); prescription 2 included Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Weizhong (BL 40), Ciliao (BL 32), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The needles were retained for 30 minutes.The TCM decoction was a self-formulated "Bushen Jianpi Huatan Decoction" (Kidney-Nourishing, Spleen-Strengthening, and Phlegm-Resolving Decoction), 1 dose per day, for 3 consecutive months. Changes in TCM syndrome scores, body composition, and glucose-lipid metabolism were observed in both groups before and after treatment, and safety assessment was conducted.
Results After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of both groups in terms of menstrual cycle, menstrual flow, menstrual color, menstrual texture, epigastric and abdominal fullness, tasteless mouth with sticky feeling and excessive phlegm, amount and color of leukorrhea, stool condition, and total score were all lower than those before treatment (observation group: Z=-3.923, -4.193, -5.012, -4.778, -4.961, -4.960, -4.810; control group: Z=-2.113, -2.424, -2.565, -3.611, -2.558, -2.842, -4.472; all P<0.05), and the scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (Z=3.800, 3.083, 2.553, 2.206, 2.249, 2.500, 5.234; all P<0.05). In regard of the body composition indicators, after treatment, indicators of both groups including body mass index (BMI), fat mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat index were all lower than those before treatment (observation group: t=11.629, 3.562, 9.750, 8.954; control group: t=9.204, 3.278, 12.618, 6.740; all P<0.05), and the indicators of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (t=-3.091, -2.995, -3.826, -4.277; all P<0.05). Indicators of both groups including fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were all lower than those before treatment (observation group: t=6.841, 9.740, 12.308, 4.842, 5.817; control group: t=2.377, 6.251, 5.182, 2.431, 2.695; all P<0.05), and the indicators of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (t=-2.568, -2.557, -3.259, -2.395, -2.280; all P<0.05).