LI Zhongxian, ZHANG Pan, JI Qiaoyu, et al. Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion for 24 cases of comorbidity of depression and insomnia[J]. Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 2025, 45(11): 1559-1564. DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20241118-k0001.
DOI:
LI Zhongxian, ZHANG Pan, JI Qiaoyu, et al. Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion for 24 cases of comorbidity of depression and insomnia[J]. Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 2025, 45(11): 1559-1564. DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20241118-k0001.DOI:
Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion for 24 cases of comorbidity of depression and insomnia
holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion (holistic treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion by adjusting the mind and consolidating the root) on comorbidity of depression and insomnia.
Methods
2
Twenty-four patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia were included and treated with
Tiaoshen Guben
holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV20)
Guanyuan (CV4)
bilateral Neiguan (PC6)
etc. The refined moxibustion therapy was delivered at Zhongwan (CV12)
Qihai (CV6)
bilateral Yongquan (KI1)
etc. Subcutaneous embedding therapy with thumb-tack needle was adopted at bilateral Xinshu (BL15)
bilateral Pishu (BL20)
etc. The intervention was operated once every other day
3 treatments a week
and for 6 consecutive weeks. Before and after treatment completion
and in 1 month after treatment
Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD-17) were adopted to assess sleep quality and depression symptoms in the patients
respectively. Before and after treatment completion
using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
the functional connectivity (FC) of locus coeruleus (LC) in brain regions was evaluated; and the levels of serum norepinephrine (NE)
cortisol (CORT)
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) were detected.
Results
2
Compared with the scores before treatment
PSQI and HAMD-17 scores after treatment completion and in 1 month after treatment were reduced (
P
<
0.01); and strengthened FC was revealed between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus
as well as the lateral occipital lobe r
egion. After treatment completion
serum NE was elevated (
P
<
0.01)
the levels of CORT
ACTH and CRH were reduced (
P
<
0.01). Before and after treatment completion
the difference in FC between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the differences in PSQI score (
r
= -0.484
P
= 0.016) and HAMD-17 score (
r
= -0.233
P
= 0.027).
Conclusion
2
Tiaoshen Guben
holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively alleviate depression symptoms and improve sleep quality in the patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia
which is obtained probably through reducing the levels of serum CORT
ACTH and CRH
increasing serum NE
strengthening the FC of the right LC with the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the lateral occipital lobe region.