Acupuncture at "umbilical four-acupoints" for chronic insomnia and its comorbid symptoms.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220815-0003
- Author:
Zhen-Hua LI
1
;
Ying-Jia XU
1
;
Yi-Ming WU
2
Author Information
1. Zhengzhou Hospital of TCM, Zhengzhou 450007, Henan Province, China.
2. Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of CM.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acupuncture;
chronic insomnia;
comorbid symptoms;
umbilical four-acupoints
- MeSH:
Humans;
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy*;
Acupuncture Points;
Acupuncture Therapy;
Sleep;
Fatigue
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2023;43(6):629-633
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of acupuncture at "umbilical four-acupoints" on chronic insomnia and its comorbid symptoms.
METHODS:A total of 120 patients with chronic insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group (60 cases, 8 cases dropped off) and a control group (60 cases, 5 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at regular acupoints (Baihui [GV 20] and bilateral Shenmen [HT 7], Neiguan [PC 6], Anmian [Extra]) and "umbilical four-acupoints", while the patients in the control group were treated with acupuncture at regular acupoints. Acupuncture was given once a day, 6 times a week, for a total of 3 weeks in the two groups. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), insomnia severity index (ISI) scores were observed before treatment, after treatment and in follow-up of one month after treatment completion; the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), fatigue severity scale (FSS), and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) scores were observed before and after treatment; the sleep parameters of polysomnography (PSG), including sleep latency (SL), awake-up time (AT), sleep efficiency (SE) and total sleep time (TST), were observed before and after treatment using polysomnography monitor in the two groups.
RESULTS:Compared with those before treatment, the PSQI and ISI scores in both groups were reduced after treatment and in follow-up (P<0.05), and the PSQI and ISI scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group after treatment and in follow-up (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the BAI, BDI, FSS and ESS scores in both groups were reduced after treatment (P<0.05), and the BAI, BDI, FSS and ESS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the SL and AT in both groups were reduced after treatment (P<0.05), while SE and TST were increased after treatment (P<0.05); after treatment, the SL and AT in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), while SE and TST in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION:On the basis of regular acupoint selection, acupuncture at "umbilical four-acupoints" could improve sleep quality, alleviate the severity of insomnia, and improve the comorbid symptoms i.e. anxiety, depression, fatigue and lethargy in patients with chronic insomnia.
