Table 1 Selection of acupuncture (AC) points; each patient was acupunctured at the same points. Sham AC was performed at locations in close proximity, 2 cm apart.

AC point	Anatomical location	Function according to TCM
Liver 3	Proximal angle between os metatarsal I and II	“Calms down the liver”
Stomach 36	5 cm below patella, 2 cm lateral of the tibial rim	“Strengthens spleen and stomach”
Spleen 6	5 cm above the medial malleolus, dorsal tibial rim
Conception 12	Middle between navel and sternum	“Removes stomach stagnation”
Stomach 21	3 cm lateral of conception 12
Stomach 25	3 cm lateral of navel
Heart 7	In the angle between os pisiform and radial side of the tendon of m flexor carpi ulnaris	“Calms down the mind”
Du Mai 20	On the midline of the head, approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting the apexes of the two auricles

TCM, traditional Chinese medicine.