Objective To analyze the regularity of acupoint selection in the treatment of insomnia by using catgut embedding so as to provide reference and evidence for clinical application.Methods Sixty-six studies about acupoint catgut embedding treatment of insomnia published from 1996 to 2017 were finally selected from the databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)

Chinese Journal of Science and Technology of VIP(VIP)

and WanFang Database.The Excel 2016 software was used for data processing and analysis

SPSS 21.0 was employed for descriptive and cluster analyses

and the Clementine 12.0 software was employed to analyze the association regularities of the most frequently used acupoints or acupoint recipes.Results The most frequently selected main acupoints for insomnia by using catgut embedment are Xinshu(BL 15)

Shenshu(BL 23)

Sanyinjiao(SP 6)

Pishu(BL 20)

Ganshu(BL 18)

combined with adjuvant acupoints Danshu(BL 19)and Fenglong(ST 40).The most frequently selected channels are the Bladder and Stomach Meridians

and the most frequently involved body positions are the back and lower limbs.Effective clusterings are BL 20—SP 6

Shenmen(HT 7)-Anmian

ST 40-Shenting(GV 24)

Qihai(CV 6)-Jueyinshu(BL 14).Descriptive analysis indicated:(1)The stronger correlation acupoint groups between back-shu points are BL 18—BL 23;BL 18

BL 15—BL 23;BL 18

BL 20

BL 15—BL 23.(2)The stronger correlation acupoint groups between common acupoints are Neiguan(PC 6)

Zusanli(ST 36)—SP 6;PC 6

HT 7 — SP 6.(3)The stronger correlation acupoint groups between common acupoints and back-shu points are BL 18

SP 6—BL 23;PC 6

BL 23 — SP 6;ST 36

PC 6

BL 15 — SP 6;BL 18

BL 15

SP 6 — BL 23.Conclusion Acupoint catgut embedding therapy is effective in the treatment of insomnia

being worthy of further popularization in clinical practice.