OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference between multivariate acupuncture of chronomedicine and conventional acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia.

METHODSFifty cases were randomly divided into a multivariate acupuncture of chronomedicine group (group A) and a rountine acupuncture group (group B), 25 cases in each one. The acupoints selected were same in each group, such as Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Chize (LU 5), etc. In group A, the patient was treated according to visit time. In light of the time division, the special acupoint of the on-duty meridian that qi and blood were abundant specifically was picked up at first. The other acupoints were punctured in the sequence of qi and blood flow among twelve meridians. In group B, the acupoints were punctured from up to down in terms of acupoint locations. Acupuncture was given once every two days in either group. Totally, 6 treatments were required. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was adopted to assess PSQI total score and the score of each item before and after treatment for the patients in two groups.

RESULTSPSQI total score was reduced apparently after treatment in either group (both P < 0.05). The score in group A was lower than that in group B after treatment (7.20 +/- 2.45 vs 9.44 +/- 3.07, P < 0.05). After treatment, the improvements of the scores of sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance in group A were superior to those in group B (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe multivariate acupuncture of chronomedicine improves sleep apparently for the patients with insomnia and its efficacy is better than that of conventional acupuncture.