The Effects of Acupuncture on Insomnia Among Midlife Women

The Effects of Acupuncture on Insomnia Among Midlife Women: A Randomized Clinical Trail

Aims: To explore the effects of acupuncture on the improvement of insomnia, fatigue, depression and menopausal symptoms among midlife women.

This research is a study with a randomized clinical trial. Participants were 40-60 years old with a sleep disturbance which persists more than one month. Twenty participants were randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received acupuncture treatment (Taichong, Shenmen, Neiguan points) twice a week, total three weeks, plus sleep hygiene guidance; the control group received subcutaneous acupuncture (non-therapeutic acupuncture points) twice a week, total three weeks and given sleep Health guidance. All participants received pre-test and post-test, including sleep multiple physiological examination (PSG), Pittsburgh sleep quality table, Epworth sleepiness scale, hospital anxiety depression scale, menopausal symptom questionnaire, sleep disturbance comprehensive scale, and wore Actiwatch for three days. Data analysis was performed using SPSS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women aged 40-60 years
• Complaints of insomnia symptoms in the past month that lasted for at least one week, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking up easily in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep after waking up, still not getting enough sleep after waking up in the morning
• The score of sleep disorder on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale was more than 5 points

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of psychiatric disorders
• History of sleep apnea or nocturnal myoclonus
• Center or neurodegenerative disease
• Cancer
• Melatonin or sleeping pills use in the past month