Treatment of insomnia in suboptimal health status with Zhuang medicine herbal-thread moxibustion: A randomized clinical trial

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the clinical effect and safety of Zhuang medicine herbal-thread moxibustion therapy for the treatment of suboptimal health status-related insomnia through a randomized clinical trial.Methods: A total number of 60 patients with insomnia of suboptimal health status (SHS) were enrolled from the Clinic of Zhuang Medicine, Renai Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine and the Clinic of Zhuang Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, as well as Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine. According to the random number table method, they were randomized into a Zhuang medicine herbal-thread moxibustion therapy group (30 patients) and a western medication group (30 partients).The outcome assessors were blinded for patients allocation. In the herbal-thread moxibustion group, Zhuang medicine herbal-thread moxibustion therapy was provided once daily. In the western medication group, alprazolam tablets were prescribed for oral administration once daily. One course consisted of 10 treatments. After three consecutive courses of treatment, the score of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was compared between groups, and both clinical effect and safety were assessed.Results: Sixty eligible patients were enrolled, and thirty were assigned to each group and included in the data analysis. After treatment, the score of each PSQI indicator (sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, and daytime dysfunction) and total PSQI score were compared with those before treatment in both groups (all changes were statistically significant when P < 0.05). Scores in the herbal-thread moxibustion group were superior to those in the western medication group (all values were statistically significant at P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% in the herbal-thread moxibustion group and 80.0% in the western medication group ( P < 0.05). During treatment, no adverse reactions were reported in the herbal-thread moxibustion group. In the western medication group, three patients reported dizziness and headache, and one patient reported dry mouth, the incidence of adverse reactions was 13.3%.Conclusion: The Zhuang medicine herbal-thread moxibustion therapy is a safe and effective management strategy for the clinical symptoms of suboptimal health status-related insomnia.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of World Journal of Acupuncture Moxibustion House.