Literature Study on Acupoint Selection and Prescription of Acupuncture for Treatment of Insomnia

Objective To summarize the modern literature of acupuncture treatment of insomnia prescription law and provide guidance for the clinical.Methods We retrieved CNKI literature on acupuncture treatment of insomnia from 1979 to 2011,established the literature database of acupuncture treatment of insomnia acupoints information including frequently used acupoints and their distribution in 14 meridians and other parts of the body.Results In 112 points from 192 papers,Shenmen(HT 7),Sanyinjiao(SP 6),Baihui(DU 20),Zusanli(ST 36),Taichong(LR 3) are mostly used.The majority of them are belong to Bladder Meridian of Foot-taiyang,DU meridian,Ren Meridian,Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-shaoyang and Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming.They are usually focus on head,neck and lower extremity.Specific Points which are used most often are the Five Transport Points,Source Point and Back Shu Points.Acupuncture prescriptions are mostly composed of multiple points.Two-point prescriptions are always composed of Specific Points and lay stress on head.Conclusion The modern acupuncture treatment of insomnia focus on acupoints along meridians,and also pay attention to the Specific Points.Acupoints selection is mostly concentrated in the head and lower extremities with the reference of traditional Chinese medicine theory.