This article describes the experiences of professor CHEN Quan-xin, an old famous TCM doctor, in the treatment of insomnia. He believes that insomnia stems from incoordination between nutrient qi and defensive qi and deficient cultivation of cardiac spirit, and treatment of insomnia need to regulate spirit and quiet heart coherently. Painless acupuncture method of Chen's flying needling is adopted including to select Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Anmian (Extra) as the main points and take special needling technique and grading reinforcing and reducing manipulations. During treatment, he pays attention to understanding patients' psychological and mental status through "watching one's expressions and weighing his words carefully".
Acupuncture Therapy ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Spirituality

Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint encountered in primary care. It affects both the individual and society through the burden of medical, psychiatric, interpersonal and social consequences. The management of patients affected by insomnia depends on the accurate diagnosis of the condition, consideration of the possible aetiologies, the duration of the insomnia and its impact on both the individual and society. Herein, we discuss the appropriate management of insomnia in the community.
Headache ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; psychology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the lavender fragrance on sleep and depression in women college students. METHOD: Forty-two women college students who complained of insomnia were studied during a four-week protocol(control treatment week, 60% lavender fragrance treatment week, washout week, 100% lavender fragrance treatment week). All subjects were in the department of nursing in "K" college and the study was a single blind repeated measurements experiment. For the duration of the study, weekly evaluations of sleep, patterns of sleep disturbance, severity of insomnia scale, self satisfaction with sleep, and severity of depression were performed. RESULT: Among sleep variables, length of time taken to fall asleep, severity of insomnia, and self satisfaction with sleep were improved for the 60%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) and 100%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) week while the severity of depression was improved only for the 100%(p=.002)week. CONCLUSION: According to the study results, it can be concluded that the lavender fragrance had a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in women college students. Repeated studies are needed to confirm effective proportions of lavender oil and carrier oil for insomnia and depression.
Students/*psychology ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/*therapy ; *Lavandula ; Humans ; Female ; Depression/*therapy ; *Aromatherapy ; Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the lavender fragrance on sleep and depression in women college students. METHOD: Forty-two women college students who complained of insomnia were studied during a four-week protocol(control treatment week, 60% lavender fragrance treatment week, washout week, 100% lavender fragrance treatment week). All subjects were in the department of nursing in "K" college and the study was a single blind repeated measurements experiment. For the duration of the study, weekly evaluations of sleep, patterns of sleep disturbance, severity of insomnia scale, self satisfaction with sleep, and severity of depression were performed. RESULT: Among sleep variables, length of time taken to fall asleep, severity of insomnia, and self satisfaction with sleep were improved for the 60%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) and 100%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) week while the severity of depression was improved only for the 100%(p=.002)week. CONCLUSION: According to the study results, it can be concluded that the lavender fragrance had a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in women college students. Repeated studies are needed to confirm effective proportions of lavender oil and carrier oil for insomnia and depression.
Students/*psychology ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/*therapy ; *Lavandula ; Humans ; Female ; Depression/*therapy ; *Aromatherapy ; Adult

As insomnia is a common symptom caused by diverse disorders, treatment tools for the insomnia differ depending on the underlying cause. Hypnotics can be used for primary insomnia. As hypnotics show excellent short-term efficacy, they would be useful as short-term ( < 4 weeks) treatments for transient insomnia. There has been much controversy over long-term hypnotic use for chronic insomnia. Evidence supporting safety and efficacy of the long-term hypnotic use is insufficient. Therefore, rather than using hypnotics alone, non-pharmacological treatments are recommended more for chronic primary insomnia. Although various benzodiazepines have widely been used as hypnotics, there have been concerns over tolerance, rebound insomnia, dependency, cognitive decline and psychomotor slowness. In efforts to relieve these concerns, selective benzodiazepine agonists like zolpidem have been introduced as novel hypnotics. Sedating antidepressants, melatonin and anti-histamine have also been used in order to manage insomnia. However, their efficacy for primary insomnia has yet to be proven.
Antidepressive Agents ; Benzodiazepines ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Melatonin ; Pyridines ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of different points combination in the treatment of menopausal insomnia.

METHODSNinety-six cases of menopausal insomnia were randomized into 3 groups, Xinshu (BL 15), Shenshu (BL 23), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were chosen in the restore interaction between the heart and the kidney group (group A, 32 cases); Zhaohai (KI 6), Jiaoxin (KI 8), Shenmai (BL 62), Pucan (BL 61) were chosen in the acupuncturing qiao mai group (group B, 32 cases); auricular Shenmen (TF4) and sensitive spot at the distribution area of auricular vagus nervus were chosen in the ear acupuncture group (group C, 32 cases). Six days made one session and the treatments were finished after 4 courses. The polysomnography (PSG) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were employed before and after treatment to evaluate the alleviation of insomnia.

RESULTSThe parameters of the sleep latency (SL), rapid wave sleep latency (RL) and sleep efficiency (SE) were significantly improved in the three groups, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The SL and awaking time (AT) in group C [SL (401.08 +/- 16.54) min and AT (4.87 +/- 2.64) times] were significantly superior to those in the other two groups [SL (50.36 +/- 18.47) min, (54.87 +/- 20.92) min, AT (5.98 +/- 2.11) times, (6.13 +/- 3.04) times, all P < 0.05]. The S(3+4) (%) in group C was also significantly higher than those in the other two groups (both P < 0.05). It was indicated by PSQI that the sleep quality of group C (0.78 +/- 0.12) was significantly superior to that in group B (1.32 +/- 0.29), the total score and cured and markedly effective rate in group C [(4.34 +/- 1.43), 68.8% (22/32)] were superior to those in group A [(7.48 +/- 3.09), 53.1% (17/32), both P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONEar acupuncture has a better curative effect than the restore interaction between the heart and the kidney group and acupuncturing qiao mai group, it is worth of being promoted.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

The authors studied anxiety, using Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), in the subjects of 3,499 male and 1,335 female college freshmen of Yeungnam University. The authors collected the reports of SAS during the periods from January to February, 1986, and applied ANOVA and t-test on anxiety scores in order to compare them between various psychosocial factors, and sexes. The results are as follows: There was significant difference in the mean averages of total anxiety scores between male and female students: male students scored 32.91±7.70, female students scored 34.48±6.00, (P<0.001). The anxiety scores relating to the items of sweating, apprehension, restlessness, and insomnia were relatively higher in both groups. The anxiety scores relating to the items of faintness, mental disintegration, tremors, dizziness were lower in both groups. Thirty-nine male students (1.1%) showed seriously high anxiety scores of 50 or higher, while twenty-one female students (1.6%) showed the same scores. So the authors inferred that the features of anxiety symptoms were much the same in our country, but female showed more various symptoms and higher level of anxiety than males. Male students attending in pharmacy showed higher level of anxiety scores (P<0.01). There was a strong tendency toward higher anxiety scores in the students who were dissatisfied with their home atmosphere, colleges, department and familiarity of parents, and those who had pessimistic views of self image in the past, present, or future, in both groups (P<0.001).
Anxiety* ; Atmosphere ; Dizziness ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Parents ; Pharmacy ; Psychology ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tremor

PURPOSE: This study was to compare and analyze sleep patterns, satisfaction of sleep, and sleep enhancement behaviors between hospitalized and non-hospitalized elderly. METHODS: Subjects were 201 older adults, who were hospitalized patients or living in U-city, Gyung-gi province. Data was collected from June 10 to August 25, 2007, and was analyzed by the SAS program. RESULTS: 1) Non-hospitalized elderly had better sleep patterns than hospitalized elderly patients. 2) There was a strong positive correlation between sleep patterns and satisfaction of sleep in both groups. 3) In hospitalized elderly, there were significant differences in sleep patterns and satisfaction of sleep by month. 4) In non-hospitalized elderly, there was a significant difference in sleep patterns by presence or absence of spouses. There was a significant difference in satisfaction of sleep by those living with others. There were significant differences in sleep enhancement behaviors by age, religion, length of time, and sponsors. CONCLUSION: To relieve sleep disturbances of elderly, comprehension of sleep of the aged by nursing care givers should be obtained. Also, improving environments and elder's selfesteem with religious consideration and preparation of financial conditions are needed to promote the sleep of hospitalized and non-hospitalized elderly.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Behavior ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Inpatients/*psychology ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Outpatients/*psychology ; Patient Satisfaction ; *Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/*psychology

The authors studied anxiety, using Zung's SelfRating Anxiety Scale (SAS), in the subjects of 3,893 male and 1,976 female college students of Yeungnam University. The authors collected the reports of SAS during the periods from October to November, 1984, and applied ANOVA and ttest on the anxiety scores in order to compare them between various psychosocial factors, and sexes. The results could be summarized as follows: There was significant difference in the mean averages of total anxiety scores between male and female students; male students scored 36.92±7.07, female students scored 39.63±7.51, p<0.001. The anxiety scores relating to the items of sweating, apprehension, restlessness, insomnia, dyspnea were relatively higher in both groups. The anxiety scores in the items of paresthesias, mental disintegration, tremors, faintness, dizziness were lower in both groups. Two hundred and one male students (5.2%) showed seriously high anxiety scores of 50 or higher, while 201 female students (10.2%) showed the same scores. So the authors inferred that the features of anxiety symptoms were much the same in our country, but females showed more various symptoms and higher level of anxiety than males. In a comparison between male students in different school grades, freshmen showed the highest level of anxiety scores and as the grades of the students became higher, the levels of anxiety scores were lower. The female students who resided in dormitory or other residences, and whose educational fees were paid by brothers or sisters, showed higher level of anxiety scores. There was s strong tendency toward higher anxiety scores in the students who were dissatisfied with their colleges or departments, and who had pessimistic views of self-image in the past, present, or future, in both groups.
Anxiety* ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paresthesia ; Psychology ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Siblings ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tremor

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the prevalence of insomnia and its associated factors among community-dwelling Korean elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey examining a person's physical and psychological health status, including sleep, was administered among 1,500 individuals aged 65 and older. All participants were community-dwelling Korean elderly. RESULTS: We found that the overall prevalence of insomnia during the preceding month was 43.1%, including difficulty initiating sleep (27%) and difficulty maintaining sleep or early morning awakening (37.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that chronic diseases [odds ratio (OR) 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.59-3.71], depression (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.31-2.63), female (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.27-2.10), suicidal ideation (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.05-2.45), poor perceived health (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.14-2.17), unemployment (1.51, 95% CI 1.13-2.03) were associated with an increased prevalence of insomnia. CONCLUSION: Insomnia is prevalent among community-dwelling Korean elderly, and multiple psychosocial factors are associated with insomnia.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence* ; Psychology ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* ; Suicidal Ideation ; Unemployment