Conducting qi and regulating the spirit needling method for insomnia: A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect differences between conducting qi and regulating the spirit needling method and regular needling method.Methods:Sixty-nine patients of insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group(35 cases)and a control group(34 cases).Bǎihuì(百会GV20),Sìshéncōng(四神聪EX-HN1),Hégǔ(合谷LI4),Tàichōng(太冲LR3),Zúsānlǐ(足三里ST36)and Sānyīnjiāo(三阴交SP6)were selected in the two groups.The patients in the observation group were treated with needling method for conducting qi and regulating the spirit.The patients in the control group were treated with the regular needling method.The treatment was given once every other day,both groups were treated for 12 times.Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS)were observed before and after the treatment and the clinical effect was evaluated.Results:After treatment,the total score and the score of each item of PSQI as well as the result of ESS were all improved after the treatment in the two groups(all P<0.05).The improvements in the total score of PSQI and the result of ESS in the observation group were better than the control group(both P<0.05).The total effective rate was 88.57%(31/35)in the observation group,significantly superior to 76.47%(26/34)in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The conducting qi and regulating the spirit needling method achieves a better effect on insomnia as compared with the regular needling method.This method achieves a remarkable improvement in sleep latency,sleep quality and daytime sleepiness.