Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and superiority of acupoint catgut-embedding in the treatment of insomnia.Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)for insomnia treated by acupoint implantation of catgut were included in the present study.We searched the related articles from 6databases(PubMed

Google Scholar

CBM

CNKI

VIP and Wanfang) from the date of inception to March 19

2017by using keywords“catgut implantation at acupuncture point”or“catgut implantation at acupoint”and“insomnia”or“agrypnia”and“randomised(or randomized)clinical trial”.The Cochrane risk bias tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence in the literature.Data were analyzed using software Revman 5.3and STATA 14.0.Results Twenty-two trials met the inclusion criteria were included.They recruited 1 714cases of insomnia.Heterogeneous test(numerical test)showed χ2=31.11

P=0.07

I 2=32%.Gabriz chart and sensitivity analysis ultimately determined that these trials have smaller or no heterogenity.The effective rate of acupoint catgut embedding for insomnia was higher than that of the control group (OR=3.77;95% CI:2.63-5.41;P<0.00001).Conclusion Acupoint catgut embedding therapy has a positive role in clinical treatment of insomnia.But due to lower quality of current literature

more high-quality randomized controlled clinical trials are required.