| ObjectiveThe intention of the study is to observe the curative effects of the moxibustion treatment compared to the standardized acupuncture for patients with insomnia syndrome.The initial physical and mental conditions of each patient were recorded.After treatment,these patients will be assessed again if their conditions have been significantly improved.The experimental results serve the purpose of future reference and continuous improvement in clinical efficacy.Methods60 patients in total have participated in this study.They were evenly split(30 patients each) into the treatment group and the control group.The 30 patients from the treatment group were from Hong Kong and China's Kaifeng City,Henan Province.Moxibustion was the method of treatment for this group. The other 30 patients from the control group were from Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine First Affiliated Hospital.They were treated solely by acupuncture.After a course of treatment,we examined the comparative efficacy standards between the two groups based on the Efficacy of TCM Diagnostic Criteria for Certification developed by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1994 and the quality of sleep under the self-rating scale(SRSS).Results1.For the treatment group,a longer period of time was required to reach the trigger point in moxibustion during the early stage of treatment.The first two were completed within one hour and a half.The subsequent treatments only took about 45 minutes.In contrast,the acupuncture treatments for the control group were usually finished in a relatively short time(less than 30 minutes).2.The patients from treatment group(Moxibustion) were being treated less frequently than the patients from the control group(acupuncture).Each session of the moxibustion treatment was usually 4～7 days apart.It was to provide recovery time for the patients and to prevent them from getting skin burns due to the high temperature of the moxibustion treatment.As for the control group,the patients had undertaken the acupuncture treatment every 1～2 days because acupoints could be divided into a few groups of sub-points. The treatment can be rotated from group to group for concessive sections.3.Moxibustion could reach out to an extensive area of relevant soft tissue and acupuncture points.The results of the treatment group were more comprehensive.On the other hand,acupuncture used in the control group focused on treating the selected acupunctural points.This application would pinpoint to particular spots for the patients' needs.4.In general,patients could tolerate high temperature rather than pain. Moxibustion treatment was easily accepted by most of the patients in the treatment group.Most patients from the control group,however,had hard time to overcome the mental fearfulness of pain from the acupuncture treatment.Conclusions1.Both acupuncture treatment and moxibustion can improve insomnia,but acupuncture treatment has better effect.2.The result of the control group(acupuncture) was immediate,given that each treatment only required less than 30 minutes.3.The elderly showed a more substantial result under the moxibution in the treatment group.The results were even more obvious among the patients with deficiency syndrome.4.The younger patients or patients with excess syndrome would usually be treated only at the acupoints below knee,such as Zusanli,Sanyinjiao, Yongquan and Shimian,etc.5.Long term medical effect is more difficult to monitor and examine due to the economic and time factors.Due to the lack of objective criteria,the treatment results collected from surveys may often be biased.6.Moxibustion is a comprehensive treatment.Over a course of treatment, a range of different diseases could be eased,including prostate,impotence, and low back pain such as sciatica and neck and shoulder ache.7.Each acupoint has its associated medical effects.The acupuncture treatment of insomnia would focus on the selected spots.Therefore,the patients are not likely to have side curative benefit.
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