One of the largest randomised controlled trials on acupuncture for insomnia has found it to be effective and safe. Researchers from Hong Kong randomised 224 subjects with insomnia to acupuncture alone (bilateral Sishencong M-HN-1, Anmian M-HN-54, Neiguan P-6, Shenmen HE-7 and Sanyinjiao SP-6 and ear Shenmen, plus Yintang M-HN-3 and Baihui DU-20, acupuncture plus auricular acupressure (Shenmen, Heart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen, Occiput and Subcortex), or a waitlist control. There was no significant difference between acupuncture and the combination treatment for any measured outcomes. However, both treatments were significantly better than waitlist in reducing insomnia (with moderate to large effect size), anxiety/depressive symptoms and fatigue, and improvements were maintained at 13 weeks after treatment.
Acupuncture with or without combined auricular acupuncture for insomnia: a randomised, waitlist-controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2017 Dec 11. pii: acupmed-2017-011371.
Quelle: www.jcm.co.uk