Therapeutic Observation of Thread-embedding at Scalp Points for Insomnia / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of thread-embedding at scalp points in treating insomnia.Method Sixty-four insomnia patients were randomized into a treatment group of 33 cases and a control group of 31 cases. The treatment group was intervened by thread-embedding at scalp points, while the control group was by orally taking Estazolam. Four weeks were taken as a treatment course, and the clinical efficacies and changes of indexes were measured after a treatment course.Result The total effective rate was 90.0% in the treatment group versus 90.3% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The item scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were changed significantly after treatment in both groups (P<0.01). The changes of sleep latency and daily function disturbance in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Thread-embedding at scalp points and oral administration of Estazolam both can improve insomnia symptoms. Thread-embedding at scalp points is inferior to Estazolam in improving sleep latency but is superior to Estazolam in improving daily function.