[Effect of <i>Tongdu Tiaoshen</i> acupuncture on serum GABA and CORT levels in patients with chronic insomnia].
Wen-Zhong Wu, Shi-Yu Zheng, Cheng-Yong Liu, Shan Qin, Xiao-Qiu Wang, Jin-Li Hu, Qing-Yun Wan, Ya-Nan Zhao, Han-Qing Xi
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: acupuncture on chronic insomnia, and explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Shenting (GV 24), etc. once every other day, 3 times a week. The control group was treated with estazolam tablets (1 mg) orally before going to bed every night. The treatments of both groups were required 4 weeks. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores, serum gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and cortisol (CORT) levels were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and the clinical effect was compared. RESULTS: >0.05). CONCLUSION: acupuncture has the same effect as western medication estazolam tablets in the treatment of patients with chronic insomnia, and has little effect on daytime dysfunction. The mechanism may be related to the increase of serum GABA level and the inhibition of the hyperactivation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.