ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect differences between auricular intradermal needling combined with erjian (HX) bloodletting and oral administration of western medicine, and to explore the efficacy of neuroendocrine level in patients with perimenopausal insomnia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 45 cases in each one. In the observation group, auricular intradermal needling combined with erjian (HX) bloodletting were adopted alternately in the two ears. The auricular points were shen (CO), xin (CO), gan (CO), shenmen (TF), jiaogan (AH), neifenmi (CO) and erjian (HX). The treatment was required once 3 days on the auricular points of one side alternatively. Oral administration of estazolam (1mg each day) was applied in the control group for 2 courses, 4 weeks as 1 course, once a day. The scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the levels of serum estrogen (E), 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were valuated in the two groups before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the total scores of PSQI reduced in the two groups (both <0.05), and the improvements of sleeping quality, sleeping time, sleeping difficulty, daytime dysfunction and the total PSQI score in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all <0.05). There was no significant difference in serum E before and after treatment in the two groups，and between the two groups after treatment (all >0.05). After treatment, 5-HT contents increased and NE levels decreased in the two groups (all <0.05), with better results in the observation group (both <0.05). The total effective rate was 95.6% (43/45) in the observation group, which was higher than 82.2% (37/45) in the control group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Auricular intradermal needling combined with erjian (HX) bloodletting can improve the sleep quality of patients with perimenopausal insomnia, and adjust the neurotransmitter level, which achieves better effect than western medication.</p>