Therapeutic Observation of Acupoint Thread-embedding for Perimenopausal Insomnia in Women / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread-embedding in treating perimenopausal insomnia in women.MethodSixty outpatients with perimenopausal insomnia were randomized into a thread-embedding group and an acupuncture group, 30 in each group. The thread-embedding group was intervened by acupoint thread-embedding by selecting Xinshu (BL15), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6), once a week, successive 3 sessions as a treatment course; the acupuncture group was intervened by regular acupuncture by selecting the same acupoints following the same treatment course, 3sessions a week. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was adopted for evaluation, and a 30-d follow-up was conducted for observing the efficacy.ResultThere was no significant difference in comparing the total effective rate between the two groups (P>0.05). After intervention, the PSQI scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.01). In the follow-up, the PSQI global score, sleep quality, sleeping pills, and daytime function scores in the thread-embedding group were significantly differentfrom that in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). ConclusionThread-embedding can produce a more significant efficacy than using acupuncture in treating perimenopausal insomnia in women.