Subacute insomnia treated with 's three-promotion needling method: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the differences in the sleep quality and the effects on insomnia severity between 's three-promotion needling method and the oral administration of estazolam.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 patients of subacute insomnia were randomized into a three-promotion needling group and a medication group, 35 cases in each one. In the three-promotion needling group, the mild promotion technique with the filiform needle, the warm promotion technique with the fire needle and the strong promotion technique with the three-edged needle were adopted in combination. The acupuncture with the filiform needle was used at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Shenting (GV 24), Shenmen (HT 7), etc, The treatment was given 3 times a week, once every 2 days. The pricking technique with fire needle was applied to Ganshu (BL 18), Xinshu (BL 15), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Geshu (BL 17), once every 3 days, twice a week. The bleeding technique with the three-edged needle was used at the ear apex, once every 2 days, 3 times a week. In the medication group, the estazolam tablets were taken orally before sleep, 1mg once every 2 days. The treatment was given consecutively for 4 weeks in the two groups. Separately, before treatment, in 2-week treatment and in 4-week treatment as well as in 1-month follow-up after treatment, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and the insomnia severity index (ISI) scores were recorded in the patients of the two groups. The clinical effects were evaluated in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#In 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, as well as in the follow-up, PSQI scores and ISI scores were all reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.05). In the three-promotion needling group, the PSQI score at each time point was reduced much more obviously as compared with the medication group (all <0.05). In the follow-up, the ISI score in the three-promotion needling group was lower than the medication group (<0.05). The total effective rates were 97.2% (34/35) and 91.4% (32/35) at the end of treatment and in the follow-up respectively in the three-promotion needling group, higher than 85.7% (30/35) and 71.4% (25/35) in the medication group (both <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#'s three-promotion needling method much more effectively improves the sleep quality and reduces insomnia severity in the patients of subacute insomnia. This therapy presents the satisfactory short-term and long-term effects.