OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture with meridian acupoints combined with three Anmian acupoints.

METHODSSixty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the acupuncture with meridian acupoints group (Group A), and the acupuncture with meridian acupoints and three Anmian acupoints group (Group B) with 30 cases in each group. After 4-week treatment, the clinical therapeutic effects and scores for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), depression index and anxiety index were assessed in the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of therapy was higher in Group B (93.3%) compared with that in the Group A (66.7%, P<0.05). When comparing after treatment with before treatment, there were significant differences in the PSQI score of sleep quality, time to sleep, sleep time, sleep disorders in Group A (P <0.05) and significant differences in the PSQI score of sleep quality, time to sleep, sleep time, sleep disorders and daytime disorders in Group B (P <0.01 or P<0.05). There were significant differences in total PSQI score between Group A and Group B (P<0.05). Both groups improved the depression and anxiety state of the patients, but acupuncture with meridian acupoints combined with three Anmian acupoints was more effective than meridian acupoints alone (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture with meridian acupoints combined with three Anmian acupoints can improve the sleeping quality of patients with insomnia.