Objective To observe the curative effect of needling stimulation of the back segment(10 spots below the spinous processes from T 3 to T 12)of the Governor Vessel in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)accompanied with somnipathy.Methods A total of 58 patients of GERD accompanied with somnipathy were randomly divided into acupuncture group(n=28)and medication group(n=30)according to random number table method.For patients of the acupuncture group

the spots below the spinous processes from T 3 to T 12

including acupoints Shenzhu(GV 12)

Shendao(GV 11)

Lingtai(GV 10)

Zhiyang(GV 9)

Jinsuo(GV 8)

Zhongshu(GV 7)and non-acupoints(T 4

T 8

T 12)were punctured with filiform needles

once every other day for 8 weeks.Patients of the medication group were ordered to take Omeprazole capsules(20 mg/time)

twice a day for 8 weeks.The therapeutic effect was assessed by"Reflux Diagnostic Questionnaire"(RDQ

scores of symptoms of heartburn

retrosternal pain

acid regurgitation and food regurgitation

0-40 points)

GERD symptom scale(scores of symptoms of the digestive system

five-sense organs

cardiovascular system

etc.

0-84 points)and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI

scores of sleep quality

fall asleep time

sleep duration

sleep efficiency

etc.

0-21 points)

respectively.Results After the treatment

RDQ score

GERD symptom scale score and PSQI score were significantly decreased in both acupuncture and medication groups compared with their own pre-treatment(P<0.01)

and the decreased scores of RDQ

GERD scale and PSQI were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the medication group(P<0.01).The cured plus markedly effective rates for RDQ in the two groups were 43.3%(13/30)and 71.4%(20/28)

respectively

and the effective rates of the medication and acupuncture groups were 56.7%(17/30)and 89.3%(25/28)for GERD scale

and 60.0%(18/30)and 92.9%(26/28)for PSQI

respectively.The cured plus markedly effective rate for RDQ

and the effective rates for GERD scale and PSQI were significantly higher in the acupuncture group than in the medication group respectively(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of Governor Vessel at the back segment is effective in improving symptoms of GERD patients with somnipathy.