Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture for Insomnia and Its Effect on 5-HT / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo explore the value of acupuncture in treating insomnia due to stagnated liverqi transforming into fire and its theoretical foundation, by observing the treatment effect of acupuncture in treating insomnia due to stagnated liverqi transforming into fire and its influence on 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) content.MethodTotally 187patients with insomnia due to stagnated liver qi transforming into fire were selected and randomized into two groups. The 93 cases in the control group were intervened by orally taking Trazodone, 100 mg for each dose, twice a day, 10 d as a course, totallyfor 2 courses; the 94 cases in the observation group were intervened by acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7), Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV29), Hegu (LI 4), and Taichong (LR 3), once a day, 10 d as a treatment course, totally for 2 courses. Peripheral blood was collected from the two groups before and after intervention to detect the change of 5-HT content. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD, 24-item version), Asberg Rating Scale for Side Effects (SERS), and clinicalefficacies were assessed.ResultThe difference in 5-HT content between the two groups was statistically insignificant before intervention (P>0.05); 5-HT contents were significantly increased in both groups after intervention (P<0.05), while the content in the observation group was markedly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05); after treatment, the PSQI and HAMD scores were decreasedin both groups (P<0.05), while the PSQI, HAMD, and SERS scores in the observation group were markedly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05);the total effective rate was 92.6% in the observation group, significantly higher than 81,7% in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionAcupuncture can significantly down-regulate 5-HT content in insomnia patients, and its total effective rate is higher than that of medication.