Impact Of Acupuncture Research Articles

The Enhancement of Blood Circulation in Uterine Adenomyosis and the Underlying Mechanism of Acupuncture Therapy

The present study centers on the impact of Acupuncture on enhancing blood circulation in adenomyosis and its underlying mechanisms. The progression of adenomyosis is intricately linked to factors such as vascular tone, blood flow rate, and platelet aggregation. The paper delves into the mechanisms through which Acupuncture facilitates the improvement of blood circulation. A thorough review of pertinent literature reveals that Acupuncture can effectively enhance blood circulation via diverse mechanisms, thereby exerting a beneficial influence on adenomyosis.

The impact of acupuncture on the brain function of patients with mild to moderate major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial protocol

IntroductionMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disease that significantly impact the daily lives of those affected. Acupuncture has shown promising therapeutic effects in the treatment of MDD, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the influence of acupuncture on the brain function of patients with MDD and it’s therapeutic effects on MDD.MethodsThis study plans to recruit 112 participants, who will be randomly allocated to either the acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will undergo 8 weeks of treatment, consisting of three sessions per week, with each session lasting for 30 min. A follow-up period of 3 months will be conducted after the treatment. Assessments will be conducted at weeks 0, 8, 12, 16, and 20 in this study. The primary outcome measure will be functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain imaging, while secondary outcome measures will include Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), 36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument (SF-36), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome score scale, and symptom elimination rate.DiscussionWhile acupuncture has been confirmed to have a certain degree of therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of MDD, research on the mechanisms underlying acupuncture’s treatment of MDD remains limited, particularly with regards to its impact on the brain function of individuals with MDD. This study aims to explore both the clinical effectiveness and treatment mechanisms of acupuncture for MDD, with a specific focus on its influence on brain function. This research endeavors to provide new insights into the potential of acupuncture as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of MDD in the future.Trial Registrationwww.chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2300076292. Registered on 28 September 2023.

Influence of acupuncture and moxibustion on gastrointestinal function and adverse events in gastric cancer patients after surgery and chemotherapy: a meta-analysis.

The impact of acupuncture and moxibustion on postoperative complications and adverse events (AEs) of chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer (GC) has been investigated. Through a meta-analysis of existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), this study sought to strengthen the evidentiary basis to help investigators further understand the effects of moxibustion and acupuncture on postoperative complications and AEs of chemotherapy among GC patients. Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals were searched to collect RCTs on effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on gastrointestinal function and AEs among GC patients undergoing surgery and chemotherapy. Outcome measures included postoperative gastrointestinal recovery (bowel sound recovery time, time to first flatus/defecation/feeding), the incidence of AEs (nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension, and diarrhea), myelosuppression (white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelet), and immune function indicators (CD3+ and CD4+). To assess quality, the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was utilized. Review Manager 5.4 was implemented to do the meta-analysis. Fifteen eligible RCTs involved 1259 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that the experimental group had a significantly shorter bowel sound recovery time (MD = - 14.57, 95% CI = [- 18.97, - 10.18], P < 0.00001), time to first flatus (MD = - 17.56, 95% CI = [- 22.23, - 12.88], P < 0.00001), time to first defecation (MD = - 17.05, 95% CI = [- 21.02, - 13.09], P < 0.00001), and time to first feeding (MD = - 23.49, 95% CI = [- 28.81, - 18.17], P < 0.00001) than the control group. There were significant decreases in the incidence of nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.46, 95% CI = [0.21, 1.02], P = 0.05) and abdominal distension (RR = 0.45, 95% CI = [0.27, 0.75], P = 0.002) observed in the experimental group in comparison with the control group. The experimental group demonstrated a significant increase in white blood cell counts in comparison with to the control group (MD = 0.89, 95% CI = [0.23, 1.55], P = 0.008). The experimental group showed significantly higher levels of CD3+ (MD = 7.30, 95% CI = [1.86, 12.74], P = 0.009) and CD4+ (MD = 2.75, 95% CI = [1.61, 3.90], P < 0.00001) than the control group. Among GC patients, acupuncture and moxibustion can aid in gastrointestinal function recovery, reduce the incidence of AEs of surgery and chemotherapy, and improve immune function.

Acupuncture Needles and the Risk of Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective National Cohort Study

Background: Controversies remain over the impact of using needles on breast cancer patients after surgery due to risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). While recent literature suggests that vascular access during the postsurgical stage does not affect the risk of BCRL, the impact of acupuncture on the risk of BCRL during the postsurgical stage has not been studied.Methods: This study included 35,153 patients from 2011 to 2013 who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in a population-based cohort from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. All patients received breast surgery, and the treatment group received acupuncture for more than 3 sessions in the 3-6 months post-surgery. The control group did not receive acupuncture. The incidence rate ratio, Kaplan-Meier curve, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the risk of BCRL, and death between groups.Results: About 5.8% of the study population received acupuncture during the 3-6 months post-surgery treatment window. After propensity score matching, the acupuncture treatment group did not show an increased risk of BCRL (IRR 1.017, 95% CI 0.868-1.193; unadjusted HR 1.018, 95% CI 0.868-1.193). This risk was robust in all multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.Conclusion: An association of BCRL with acupuncture was not observed. Patients who received acupuncture to manage symptoms such as pain during the 3-6 months postsurgical stage did not have a higher risk of developing BCRL. Breast cancer patients who seek acupuncture to alleviate post-surgery symptoms such as pain, can receive acupuncture without concerns for potential risk of BCRL.

The effectiveness of acupuncture in cancer pain treatment.

In recent years, pain has been recognized as a primary factor significantly diminishing the quality of life in cancer patients. Recent data have prompted the establishment and increased application of non-pharmacological interventions in pain management, such as acupuncture. This review assesses literature from 2018 to 2023 on the impact of acupuncture on pain management and quality of life in cancer patients, with a particular focus on reducing pain intensity. The effectiveness of acupuncture therapy was compared with the traditional treatment of pain symptoms, with a focus on the patients' quality of life. Although no conclusive scientific evidence confirms the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating cancer pain symptoms, numerous studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce pain, better control pain, decrease analgesic intake, and significantly improve patients' quality of life. Further research is needed to unequivocally confirm the clinical benefits of acupuncture.

The Impact of acupuncture on ankle injury rehabilitation among volleyball players in middle Euphrates clubs

The Impact of acupuncture on ankle injury rehabilitation among volleyball players in middle Euphrates clubs

The impact of acupuncture on neuroplasticity after ischemic stroke: a literature review and perspectives.

Ischemic stroke is common in the elderly, and is one of the main causes of long-term disability worldwide. After ischemic stroke, spontaneous recovery and functional reconstruction take place. These processes are possible thanks to neuroplasticity, which involves neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and angiogenesis. However, the repair of ischemic damage is not complete, and neurological deficits develop eventually. The WHO recommends acupuncture as an alternative and complementary method for the treatment of stroke. Moreover, clinical and experimental evidence has documented the potential of acupuncture to ameliorate ischemic stroke-induced neurological deficits, particularly sequelae such as dyskinesia, spasticity, cognitive impairment, and dysphagia. These effects are related to the ability of acupuncture to promote spontaneous neuroplasticity after ischemic stroke. Specifically, acupuncture can stimulate neurogenesis, activate axonal regeneration and sprouting, and improve the structure and function of synapses. These processes modify the neural network and function of the damaged brain area, producing the improvement of various skills and adaptability. Astrocytes and microglia may be involved in the regulation of neuroplasticity by acupuncture, such as by the production and release of a variety of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Moreover, the evidence presented indicates that acupuncture promotes neuroplasticity by modulating the functional reconstruction of the whole brain after ischemia. Therefore, the promotion of neuroplasticity is expected to become a new target for acupuncture in the treatment of neurological deficits after ischemic stroke, and research into the mechanisms responsible for these actions will be of significant clinical value.

Pathophysiological justification of acupuncture in the treatment of traumatic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (literature review)

The main pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of a traumatic disease of the musculoskeletal system are peripheral circulation disorder, hypoxia, and inflammation, which is accompanied by the development of pain. Pain management is a primary component in helping patients with various injuries. The activation of sanogenetic reactions is also crucial in accelerating the processes of damaged tissues regeneration. A scientific search on the impact of acupuncture on typical pathophysiological processes of traumatic disease was conducted in the Medline and Google Scholar databases. The analysis of scientific journal articles showed that despite the ambiguous attitude to acupuncture, the effectiveness of the method is quite high. Acupuncture is a branch of complementary medicine that has been used for thousands of years. Scientific research in recent decades has established a positive therapeutic effect on various links of pathogenesis through the implementation of the main mechanisms of acupuncture, at the segmental, suprasegmental and cortical levels, manifested in the form of neurohumoral and neuroimmune reactions. The presented literature review directs researchers to further study the possibilities of acupuncture in the treatment of traumatic diseases of the musculoskeletal system from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine.

Acupuncture for hot flashes in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, a pooled analysis of individual patient data from parallel randomized trials.

12124 Background: Hot flashes are a common side effect of endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients (pts). In a coordinated multinational study, we evaluated the impact of acupuncture on hot flashes and related symptoms in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer pts undergoing adjuvant endocrine therapy in the USA, China, and South Korea. Methods: Parallel randomized trials were conducted at three sites: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, USA; Jiangsu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China; and Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Republic of Korea, using the same inclusion/exclusion criteria, randomization, and measures. Breast cancer pts receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy and having ≥14 hot flashes per week were randomized equally to acupuncture (A) or usual care (UC); randomization was stratified by number of hot flashes per day (2-6 or 7+). Pts in arm A received a standardized acupuncture protocol twice per week for 10 weeks; pts in the UC arm received usual care. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and week 10. The primary endpoint was change in the Endocrine Symptom Subscale (ESS) of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Systems (FACT-ES). Secondary endpoints included changes in the FACT-Breast (FACT-B) and Daily Hot Flash Score (DHFS), a measure incorporating hot flash frequency and severity. Target enrollment was 160 pts (USA 80, China 40, Korea 40) providing 84% power to detect a clinically meaningful change in the ESS. Analyses were intention-to-treat. A pooled analysis of individual patient data was performed using linear models adjusted for site and baseline number of hot flashes. Results: Between Jan. 2019 and June 2021, 158 female pts with stage 0-III breast cancer were randomized from the USA (n=78), China (n=40), and South Korea (n=40). Median age was 48 years (range: 25 to 73). At baseline, pts reported similar numbers of hot flashes between study arms (6.2± 4.3 vs. 6.5± 3.8 per day). At week 10, pts in arm A reported statistically significant improvements in ESS score, FACT-B total score and DHFS compared with the UC arm (Table). The reduction in the DHFS from baseline in arm A was 53%. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusions: Acupuncture led to statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in hot flashes, endocrine symptoms, and breast cancer-specific quality of life in women undergoing adjuvant hormonal therapy for breast cancer in the USA, China and South Korea. Clinical trial information: NCT00797732, ChiCTR2100045888, KCT0003618. [Table: see text]

The Impact of Acupuncture on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Obese Adult Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: We wanted to research the effect of acupuncture on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in morbidly obese adult patients who were scheduled for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Design: This prospective randomized controlled study included 62 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III, 18- to 60-year-old morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Patients were assigned using a closed envelope method to both groups equally. Group I consisted of acupuncture and metoclopramide; Group II consisted of metoclopramide. Setting: The study was carried out in Kecioren Educational Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Interventions: Acupuncture was performed by needling PC6, LI4 acupoints bilaterally and Yin Tang acupoint in Group I. Metoclopramide was administered as an antiemetic drug in both groups. Measurements: Demographic parameters, SAMBA PONV risk, first analgesic requirement time and PONV of the patients at the recovery 0-1, 1-6, 6-12, and 12-24 hours after operation were recorded. We used the simplified PONV impact scale to determine the intensity of nausea and its effects on the patient. Results: Nausea was observed in 37.5% of patients in Group I and 63.3% of patients in Group II at the recovery. Nausea intensity was not different between the groups at the postoperative 1-6 hours, but vomiting count was found higher in Group II at the postoperative 12-24 hours. Apfel score of the patients were similar between the groups. PONV impact scale was found higher in Group II. First analgesic requirement time was found shorter and demand for additional analgesic treatment was found significantly higher in Group II. Conclusions: Combining acupuncture with antiemetic treatment reduced nausea intensity and vomiting in the postoperative follow-up period. Also, patient's first analgesic demand time was found longer and the requirement for additional analgesic treatment was found lower in the acupuncture group.

A randomized trial to assess the immediate impact of acupuncture on quantitative sensory testing, pain, and functional status: erratum

A randomized trial to assess the immediate impact of acupuncture on quantitative sensory testing, pain, and functional status: erratum

Acupuncture for radiation-induced toxicity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review based on PICO criteria

PurposeIn head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the potential mitigating effect of complementary medicine interventions such as acupuncture for radiation-induced toxicity is unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of acupuncture on the incidence and degree of severity of common radiation-induced side effects.MethodsIn accordance with pre-specified PICO criteria, a systematic review was performed. Two electronic databases (Medline and Embase) were searched over a 10-year time frame (01/01/10 to 30/09/20). Patients undergoing a curatively intended, radiation-based treatment for histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx and oral cavity represented the target population of our study. Accurate information on the acupuncture methodology was reported. All included articles were evaluated to identify any potential source of biasResultsFive papers were included in our qualitative analysis, for a total of 633 subjects. Compliance to per-protocol defined schedule of acupuncture sessions was high, ranging from 82 to 95.9%. Most patients (70.6%) were randomly allocated to receive acupuncture for its potential preventive effect on xerostomia. The large heterogeneity in study settings and clinical outcomes prevented from performing a cumulative quantitative analysis, thus no definitive recommendations can be provided.ConclusionsAlthough shown to be feasible and safe, no firm evidence currently supports the use of acupuncture for the routine management of radiation-induced toxicity in HNSCC.

6D2 Acupuncture for Pain: A Feasibility Study for the Integrative NP Pain Service

This IRB approved research study aims to explore the feasibility of Acupuncture as a nonpharmacologic modality for the treatment of pain in patients admitted to a hospital setting with a primary or secondary diagnosis of uncontrolled pain. Acupuncture has been extensively quoted in the literature as a recommended nonpharmacologic modality for the treatment of pain(American College of Physicians,2017). As a Pragmatic Pilot Study using a convenience sample of patients who experience uncontrolled pain and have been referred to a Pain NP service, the impact of Acupuncture on pain, function, LOS, patient satisfaction and workflow of the pain service will be explored. It is expected that the findings of this study will add to the current body of literature on nonpharmacologic pain modalities and provide a foundation for the expansion of integrative modalities with further research opportunities for a inpatient pain management Nurse Practitioner (NP) Service.

Impact of acupuncture on outcomes following frozen euploid blastocyst eSET

Impact of acupuncture on outcomes following frozen euploid blastocyst eSET

A randomized trial to assess the immediate impact of acupuncture on quantitative sensory testing, pain, and functional status.

In this randomized clinical trial, we examined whether the effect of true acupuncture can be differentiated from sham acupuncture (pain and functionality) by analyzing quantitative sensory testing (QST) profiles in chronic pain participants. We recruited 254 healthy or chronic back and neck pain participants. Healthy subjects were included to control for a possible effect of acupuncture on baseline QST changes. Study participants received 6 sessions (twice weekly) of true acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or no acupuncture treatment (routine care). Quantitative sensory testing profiles, pain scores, and functionality profile were obtained at baseline (visit 1) and after 3 (visit 4) or 6 sessions (visit 7). A total of 204 participants were analyzed. We found no QST profile changes among 3 groups (P = 0.533 and P = 0.549, likelihood ratio tests) in either healthy or chronic pain participants. In chronic back and neck pain participants, true acupuncture reduced pain (visit 4: difference in mean [DIM] = -0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.4 to -0.1, adjusted P = 0.168; visit 7: DIM = -1.0, 95% CI: -1.7 to -0.3, adjusted P = 0.021) and improved functional status including physical functioning (DIM = 14.21, 95% CI: 5.84-22.58, adjusted P = 0.003) and energy/fatigue (DIM = 12.28, 95% CI: 3.46-21.11, adjusted P = 0.021) as compared to routine care. Our results indicate that QST was not helpful to differentiate between true acupuncture and sham acupuncture (primary outcome) in this study, although true acupuncture reduced pain and improved functionality (secondary outcomes) when compared with routine care.

Impact of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis on the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPatients with moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) have long-term physical and mental stress, leading to dysfunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which results in recurrence of AR. Previous research has proved acupuncture can regulate the function of the neuron-endocrine-immune system and contribute to improving the quality of life of patients with AR. This research aims to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture on the HPA axis in patients with moderate or severe persistent AR.Methods/designThis randomized controlled trial aims to study the impact of acupuncture on the HPA axis of patients with moderate and severe AR. This research also aims to compare the curative effects of different treatments in three groups of patients: those receiving western medicine, western medicine and conventional acupuncture, or western medicine and mind-regulating acupuncture. We will study the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and the correlation between the changes of therapeutic indexes and experimental indexes after the treatments. Therapeutic indexes include the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of nasal symptoms and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) for AR patients; experimental indexes include corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ).DiscussionThe results of this trial will provide evidence for the influence of chronic, long-term, repeated stimulation in patients with moderate and severe persistent AR and the impact of acupuncture on the HPA axis of these patients.Trial registrationAcupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry, AMCTR-IOR-16000009. Registered on 22 August 2016.

(362) ED Acupuncture: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Impact on Pain

When patients present to the emergency department (ED) for pain, conventional treatment is often limited to prescription medications. Hospitals are now seeking non-pharmacological management options for acute pain due to the opioid crisis. Our quality improvement study aimed to determine the feasibility of implanting an employed acupuncturist within an urban ED to provide acupuncture as a nonpharmacological acute pain management option and to determine the impact of acupuncture on acute pain reduction. To our knowledge, few ED acupuncture models exist worldwide. Limited information has been reported about acceptance of acupuncture in the ED setting by physicians and patients, and it is unknown if there is enough time for acupuncture during the ED visit. The ED selected for this study had an average 1.5-2 hour wait time for treatment and annually treated an average of 34,000 patients of which 66% presented with an emergency severity index between 3-5(ESI; highest severity [1] - lowest severity [5]). In 2017, acupuncture services were offered to adult patients with ED physician approval based on their ESI level and reason for visit. Patient self-reported pre- and post-acupuncture pain scores (i.e., no pain [0] - worst pain [10]) were compared using paired t-tests. Multivariable regression models were also constructed. A total of 706 patients were approached, of which 379 (53.7%) consented to receive acupuncture services. Overall, patients presented with a median ESI score of 3, and 53.6% did not receive opioids at any time during their ED visit. Mean pain score improvement (6.5 vs. 3.4; p

Acupuncture and in vitro fertilisation research: current and future directions.

Acupuncture is a common adjuvant treatment to support patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, the impact of acupuncture and the different roles it can play in IVF remain unclear. In this paper, we present an overview and critique of the current evidence on acupuncture's impact on IVF-related stress, describe harms, and propose future directions for investigation. Two to three acupuncture sessions performed on or around the day of embryo transfer are insufficient interventions to improve IVF birth outcomes but provide significant IVF-related stress reduction. Research investigating acupuncture to support IVF is heterogeneous and confounded by the lack of an appropriate comparator. However, evidence suggests several acupuncture sessions improve endometrial thickness, reduce stress, and improve patient satisfaction. Observational studies suggest more sessions are associated with increases in clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. An optimised acupuncture intervention with a reasonable comparator is necessary for future studies, with evidence-based guidance on technique and number of sessions. Acupuncture should not be rejected as an adjuvant therapy for IVF, but more studies are needed to clarify acupuncture's role in supporting IVF cycles.

The impact of acupuncture on IVF success rates: A randomised controlled trial

Background: Clinical trials to assess the benefits of acupuncture on in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment have differed in study design, protocol, outcome measures and commercial bias. This heterogeneity has precluded any firm conclusion regarding the efficacy, or otherwise, of acupuncture in this field. To address this, 15 international acupuncturists with experience in treating women during IVF participated in Delphi questionnaires and reached a consensus protocol to be used in future research. We were among the first to adopt this newly agreed standard protocol. The aim of this study was to address whether the agreed acupuncture consensus protocol is beneficial for IVF outcomes and may be offered to women undergoing IVF. Methods: An randomised controlled trial, in which 157 women were randomised to receive either acupuncture treatment three times in the treatment cycle in addition to our standard IVF protocol (n = 79) or no acupuncture treatment (n = 78) in their first or second IVF cycle. They were between 23 and 43 years with body mass index below 30. The study group (n = 79) received acupuncture based on the Delphi consensus protocol, between days 6 and 8 of ovarian stimulation, and twice on the day of embryo transfer, before and after transfer. The IVF practitioner was blinded to the randomisation. The primary end point was live birth. Results: Fifteen out of 79 women in the intervention group withdrew from the study compared to 9/78 women from the control group (P Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials NCT02683967.

Effect of acupuncture and its influence on cerebral activity in perimenopausal insomniacs: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPerimenopausal insomnia is one of the core symptoms of the menopausal transition. Acupuncture is considered to exert a positive effect on restoring the normal sleep–wake cycle. However, there is little intuitive evidence besides evaluation using clinical effectiveness scales. We therefore designed this study, aiming to use more intuitive and reliable detection techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after applying acupuncture to provide neuroimaging evidence, as well as to verify the effectiveness with other curative effect indicators.Methods/DesignThis study is a randomized, assessor–statistician-blinded, positive medicine controlled trial involving 40 participants. A total of 40 eligible patients with perimenopausal insomnia will be randomly assigned to two groups in a 1:1 ratio as an intervention group using acupuncture and a control group taking estazolam. Participants in the intervention group will receive six acupuncture treatment sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks, for a total of 24 sessions during the study. Meanwhile, the medicine control group will be prescribed estazolam 1–2 mg/day to be taken 30 minutes before sleep for 4 weeks. The primary outcome is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Secondary outcomes are the micro-movement sensitive mattress-type sleep monitoring system, the Hamilton Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. All outcomes will be evaluated before and after treatment. The safety of interventions will be assessed at every visit.DiscussionThe results of this trial, which will be available in 2018, will investigate the impact of acupuncture treating perimenopausal insomnia from assessment of the sleep architecture, hormone level, and emotional-circuit neurological function, and will uncover the effective mechanism of acupuncture regulating the emotional center integrated effect.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trials Register, ChCTR-IPC-16007832. Registered on 26 January 2016.