A real-world study on the efficacy of “Tongdu Tiaoshen” needling in the treatment of insomnia

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2025 Oct 25;50(10):1186-1193. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240868.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of “Tongdu Tiaoshen” needling (draging the Governor Vessel and normalizing mental activities) in the treatment of insomnia in the clinical real world and to explore the influencing factors of clinical efficacy.

METHODS: A total of 227 patients with insomnia were given “Tongdu Tiaoshen” (freeing the Governor Vessel and regulating the spirit) needling, with electroacupuncture (EA) applied at Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24+), bilateral Shenmen (HT7), and bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6) for 30 min each time. Based on the number of treatments, the patients were divided into 2 cohorts:the < 6 times group (227 cases) and the≥6 times group (74 cases). Then, propensity score matching was used to balance the confounding factors between the cohorts. Patients with < 6 treatments within 4 weeks were included in the low-frequency group (37 cases), and patients with≥6 treatments were included in the high-frequency group (37 cases). Propensity score matching was used to balance the confounding factors between the cohorts. Before and after treatment, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), fatigue severity scale (FSS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores of the patients were evaluated. The therapeutic effect was assessed.

RESULTS: Following the treatment, the PSQI and FSS scores of the high-frequency treatment group and the low-frequency treatment group were all decreased (P<0.05), while the FSS score of the high-frequency treatment group was lower than that of the low-frequency treatment group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in SDS scores between the two groups. The high-frequency treatment group showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in SAS scores after treatment than that before treatment, whereas no significant difference was observed in the low-frequency group, additionally, the high-frequency treatment group was lower than the low-frequency treatment group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: “Tongdu Tiaoshen” needling can effectively treat insomnia, relieve fatigue and anxiety in patients with insomnia. The number of treatment significantly affects the clinical efficacy in treating insomnia.

PMID:41116992 | DOI:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240868