On the Treatment of Insomnia with Fang’s Scalp Acupuncture Based on the Therapy of “Regulating Mental Activities and Smoothing the Liver”

As a common clinical disease,insomnia was usually treated with anti-psychotic or sedativehypnotic drugs in Western medicine,which showed a fast efficacy,as well as easy drug tolerance and side effects.In traditional Chinese medicine,the basic and key pathogenesis of insomnia are believed to be“the restlessness of the mind”,as well as“the absence of the mind”;and the treatment mainly focus on“regulating mental activities and smoothing the liver”.By combining the theoretical basis and characteristics of Fang’s scalp acupuncture,this paper aims to explain the advantages of Fang’s scalp acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia,and provide new ideas and methods for its clinical treatment.

Depressive Neurosis Treated by Acupuncture for Regulating the Liver―A Report of 176 Cases

Objective: To observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture for regulating the liver on depressive neurosis. Methods: In a multi-center randomized controlled trial, 440 patients were divided into 3 groups: Acupuncture group for regulating the liver (Acup., 176 cases) was treated by acupuncture at Siguan Points, i.e. bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) plus ear-acupuncture, Prozac group (P., 176 cases) by oral administration of Prozac, and Non-acupoint needling group (NAN, 88 cases) by acupuncture at non-acupoints as acupuncture placebo. Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) was examined before treatment, and one month, two and three months after treatment respectively to evaluate therapeutic effect, and Rating Scale for Side Effects (SERS) was used to evaluate the safety. Results: After one month of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were significantly lower than that in P. Group (P<0.05) and than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were lower than that in NAN Group (P<0.05), showing the SDS scores in Acup. Group <P. Group <NAN Group. After 2 months of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were also significantly lower than that in P. Group (P<0.01) and than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were also lower than that in NAN Group (P<0.05), showing the SDS scores in Acup. Group <P. Group <NAN Group. After 3 months of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were also significantly lower than that in P. Group (P<0.01) and than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were also lower than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), showing the SDS score in Acup. Group <P. Group <NAN Group. After treatment, SERS scores were 0.16±0.95, 6.51±5.09 and 0.23±1.36 in Acup. Group, P. Group and NAN Group respectively. A significant difference existed between Acup. Group and P. Group (P<0.05), but no significant difference between Acup. Group and NAN Group (P>0.05), showing the SERS scores in Acup. Group <NAN Group <P. Group. No side effect was found in Acup. and NAN groups. Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis is better than or similar to that of Prozac but with less side effect.

疏肝调神针法结合择时耳穴压豆治疗阈下抑郁

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical therapeutic effect on subthreshold depression of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency treated with acupuncture therapy for soothing the liver and regulating the mind combined with the well-timed auricular acupressure.MethodsA total of 34 patients were treated with acupuncture therapy for soothing the liver and regulating the mind combined with well-timed auricular acupressure.In acupuncture therapy for soothing the liver and regulating the mind,main acupoints included Baihui(BL20),Neiguan(PC6)and Taichong(LR3),and supplementary acupoints included Sishencong(EX-HN1),Shenting(GV24),Benshen(GB13),Zusanli(ST36),Ganshu(BL18)and Pishu(BL20).Acupuncture was given three times a week as one course and 4 courses of treatment were required.In well-timed auricular acupressure,auricular points included Xin(CO15),Pizhixia(AT4),Shenmen(TF4),Gan(CO12)and Pi(CO13).Acupressure with herbal seeds at those auricular points was applied at three time divisions,i.e.9:00 to 11:00,11:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00 successively.The auricular acupressure with herbal seeds was given once every 3 days,the treatment for 1 week was 1 course and 4 courses were required.At the end of treatment and in 3 months of follow-up,the score of Hamilton depression scale-24(HAMD-24),syndrome score of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),the score of Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale(CES-D)and the score of Short-form 36 item health survey(SF-36)were adopted to evaluate clinical therapeutic effect.ResultsAfter treatment and in three months of follow-up,HAMD-24 score,TCM syndrome score and CES-D score were all reduced as compared with the scores before treatment(all P<0.05)and SF-36 score was higher than the score before treatment,respectively(both P<0.05).In comparison of the scores after treatment with those in 3 months of follow-up,differences were not statistically significant(all P>0.05).Of 34 patients with subthreshold depression,8 cases were cured,15 cases effective remarkably,9 cases improved and 2 cases no effect.The total effective rate was 94.12%.ConclusionThe combined treatment of acupuncture therapy for soothing the liver and regulating the mind with the well-timed auricular acupressure can be benefit for relieving the symptoms and improves the quality of life in the patients with subthreshold depression of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency.