[Comparative observation of acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture therapy of for insomnia of liver depression and stagnation].

Objective: To compare the effect of (soothing the liver and regulating mind) acupoint thread-embedding therapy and acupuncture therapy for insomnia of liver depression and stagnation.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with insomnia of liver depression and stagnation were randomly divided into an acupoint embedding group (34 cases) and an acupuncture group (34 cases). Two groups were respectively treated with acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18) and Xinshu (BL 15). The treatment in the acupoint embedding group was given once a week, and in the acupuncture group was given once every other day for 6 weeks. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), TCM syndrome scores before and after treatment and medical expenses were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.

Results: After treatment, the PSQI total scores, each sub-item score and SAS and SDS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (<0.05); the sleep quality, time during fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction scores and PSQI total score in the acupoint embedding group after treatment were lower than those in the acupuncture group (<0.05). After treatment, except for constipation and yellowish urine, the sub-item scores and total scores of TCM syndromes in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (<0.05); the sleep disturbance score of the acupoint embedding group was lower than that of the acupuncture group (<0.05). The medical expenses in the acupoint embedding group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (<0.05). The total effective rate of the acupoint embedding group was 85.3% (29/34), and the acupuncture group was 82.4% (28/34), there was no significant difference between the two groups (>0.05).

Conclusion: acupoint thread-embedding therapy and acupuncture therapy both have significant curative effect on insomnia of liver depression and stagnation, but acupoint thread-embedding therapy is better than acupuncture therapy in improving sleep quality and reducing medical expenses.