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Effect of Auricular Acupoint Bloodletting plus Auricular Acupressure on Sleep Quality and Neuroendocrine Level in College Students with Primary Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Authors :
Chen, Hao
Zhang, Ming-jian
Wu, Jia-ai
She, Yan-fen
Yuan, Xin-ru
Huo, Yun-xiang
Sun, Huan
Liu, Dao-nan
Shi, Xu-liang
Source :
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine; Dec2022, Vol. 28 Issue 12, p1096-1104, 9p
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of auricular acupoint bloodletting (AB) and auricular acupressure (AA) on sleep quality and the levels of melatonin (MT), glutamic acid (Glu), and γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in college students with primary insomnia, and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods: Totally 74 college students at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine with primary insomnia were selected from October 2019 to October 2020. All patients were assigned to AB+AA group (37 cases, received combination of AB and AA) and AA group (37 cases, received only AA on the same acupoints) by a random number table. Each group was treated twice a week for 4 weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome score, total effective rate, serum concentrations of MT, Glu, and GABA, and Glu/GABA ratio were compared between the two groups after treatment and at follow-up. The safety of therapy was also evaluated. Results: After 4-week treatment, the total scores of PSQI, each PSQI component score, and the CM syndrome scores in both groups all decreased (P<0.05); the serum MT concentrations in both groups all increased (P<0.05). The concentrations of Glu and GABA in the AB+AA group were significantly higher than those in the AA group after treatment (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the ratio of Glu/GABA in both groups before and after treatment (P>0.05). At follow-up, the CM syndrome score in the AB+AA group was significantly lower than that in the AA group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in total effective rates and adverse events (P>0.05). Conclusions: Both AB+AA and AA can relieve insomnia symptoms, but a stronger long-term effect were observed for AB+AA. AB+AA can promote the secretion of MT, increase the levels of Glu and GABA more effective than AA, and regulate their imbalance, and thus it may be benificial for treating insomnia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16720415
Volume :
28
Issue :
12
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
160371850
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3581-0