Clinical observation of auricular needle-embedding therapy for primary insomnia

To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular needle-embedding therapy for treating primary insomnia.

A total of 63 patients were randomly divided into a conventional acupuncture group and an auricular needle-embedding group. The conventional acupuncture group received acupuncture at meridian points, while the auricular needle-embedding group received acupuncture at auricular points. Treatments were given once a day for 6 consecutive days, followed by a 1-day break, as a course of treatment. Both groups were treated for 2 courses. Before treatment, and after 1 course and 2 courses of treatment, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score was assessed, and the efficacy was evaluated.

The cured and markedly effective rate and total effective rate of the auricular needle-embedding group were higher than those of the conventional acupuncture group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). After 1 course of treatment, the PSQI global score and the scores of subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction of both groups decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01); there was no statistical significance in comparing the PSQI global score and individual component scores between the two groups (P>0.05). After 2 courses of treatment, the PSQI global score and the scores of sleep latency and habitual sleep efficiency of the auricular needle-embedding group decreased compared with those after 1 course of treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05), while only the score of sleep latency of the conventional acupuncture group decreased compared with that after 1 course of treatment (P<0.05); the PSQI global score and the scores of subjective sleep quality and sleep latency of the auricular needle-embedding group were lower than those of the conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05).

Both therapies can improve insomnia. Compared to conventional acupuncture, auricular needle-embedding therapy demonstrates a therapeutic advantage in improving sleep latency and sleep quality, making it worthy of clinical promotion.