Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of body acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture in the treatment of woman menopause insomnia induced by disharmony between the heart and kidney.Methods A total of 111 outpatients with menopausal insomnia were randomly divided into treatment group(n=55

body acupoints plus auricular points)and control group(n=56

body acupoints).For control group

Shenmen(HT7)

Sanyinjiao(SP6)

Anmian

Zhaohai(KI6)

Shenmai(BL62)

Sishencong(EX-HN1)

Xinshu(BL15)and Shenshu(BL21)were needled with filiform needles

and HT7

SP6

Anmian

BL15 and BL21 were also stimulated with electroacupuncture(EA)for 30 min

once every other day

3 times a week for 3 weeks.For the treatment group

auricular points as Kidney

Shenmen

Sympathetic and Endocrine around the ear canal and the ear cavity were punctured with filiform needles in combination with the same intervention methods mentioned above in the control group.The quality and efficiency of sleep were assessed by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)scale before and after the treatment.The symptom scores of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and the therapeutic effect were determined according to the "Guide Principles for Clinical Research of New Drugs of TCM"(formulated by Chinese Ministry of Health

1997).Results After the treatment

the scores of sleep quantity and effective rate of PSQI scale

and those of insomnia and dreaminess

dysphoria with feverish sensation in chest

palms and soles

paplpitation and irritability

fatigue and forgetfulness of TCM were reduced significantly in both groups compared with their own pre-treatment(P<0.05).Of the 56 and 55 cases in the control and treatment groups

18(32.1%)and 30(54.5%)experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms

28(50.0%)and 22(40.0%)were effective

and 10(17.9%)and 3(5.5%)failed

with the effective rate being 82.1% and94.5%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of stimulation of the body acupoints plus auricular acupoints was significantly superior to that of stimulation of simple body acupoints in lowering scores of PSQI scale

insomnia and dreaminess

dysphoria with feverish sensation in chest

palms and soles

dizziness and tinninus

paplpitation and irritability

and tital fever and night sweating of TCM

as well as the effective rate(P<0.05).Conclusion Both body acupuncture and body acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture are effective in the treatment of woman menopause insomnia due to disharmony between the heart and kidney

and the two combined treatment was evidently better.