CM NEWS - Using electric acupuncture to needle 4 “extraordinary” acupoints on the top of the head might have impressive effect on treating insomnia, a recent study indicates.
Researchers at the Shandong Provincial Hospital in China evaluated the clinical therapeutic effect of electric acupuncture at a set of 4 acupoints Sishencong (EX-HN 1, “Four Brightening Spirits”, 四神聰) on insomnia.
In this study, 276 patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, 138 in each group. The treatment group received electric acupuncture at Sishencong, and the control group with oral administration of Tianmeng Capsule (甜夢膠囊, or “Sweet Dream Capsule”, which is a all herb product for treating mild insomnia).
The treatment course for both groups was 3 weeks. The quality and related parameters of sleep before and after treatment were evaluated with a multi-channel sleep detector. The results showed that quality of sleep was improved in both groups after treatment.
However, the improvement in the electric acupuncture group was superior to that in the control group. The researchers suggest that needling Sishencong with electric acupuncture has obvious effect on insomnia.
Possible explanations
One study on the effect of needling Sishencong on mice shows that the acupuncture significantly increase nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) content in the brain. A growing body of evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in the circadian and homeostatic processes of sleep regulation
In another study by a group of Taiwanese researchers revealed that the sensitivity of spontaneous barorecepor reflex was improved by acupuncture at Sishencong points.
Sishencong acupuncture might be able to simultaneously enhance cardiac vagal activity and suppress cardiac and vascular sympathetic activities in humans. It also augments the sensitivity of baroreflex. The result can explain the therapeutic mechanism on tension insomnia by acupuncture at Sishencong points.
[Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2007 Nov;27(11):1030-2 (Article in Chinese)]
More readings:
Electric theories on acupuncture (BBC)
