Clinical research on insomnia treated by acupuncture at back-shu points

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effect on insomnia treated with acupuncture at back-shu points. Methods Sixty-four cases of insomnia were selected and divided randomly into a back-shu points group (group A) and a conventional acupoints group (group B) by a computer generated allocation list, 32 cases in each one. In the trial group, acupuncture was applied at Xīnshū ( BL 15), Gānshū ( BL 18), Pishū ( BL 20) and Geshū ( BL 17). In the control group, acupuncture was applied conventionally to Neiguān ( PC 6), Shenmen ( HT 7), Sānyīnjiāo ( SP 6), Baihui ( GV 20) and Sishencōng ( EX-HN 1). Ten treatments made a session. The efficacy was analyzed statistically after 3 sessions of treatment. Results There were significant differences between the two groups in the relief of sleep disorders after the treatment (P Conclusion The clinical efficacy is achieved by either acupuncture at back-shu points or by acupuncture at conventional acupoints. The improvements of sleep efficiency and sleep disorder scores in PSQI, and sleep difficulty in TCM as well as the long-term efficacy are superior in group A as compared with those in group B.