Prescription of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Selection of Acupoints in Pattern-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Insomnia: A Systematic Review
Table 4
The commonly used acupoints for insomnia in subjects diagnosed with different TCM patternsa.
Deficiency of both the heart and spleen (心 脾兩 虛)
Hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency (陰 虛火 旺)
Liver-qi stagnation transforming into fire (肝 鬱化 火)
Heart-kidney noninteraction (心 腎不 交)
Internal disturbance of phlegm heat (痰 熱內 擾)
Qi deficiency of the heart and gallbladder (心 膽氣 虛)
Liver fire flaming upward (肝 火上 擾)
Heart deficiency with timidity (心 虛膽 怯)
Disharmony between spleen and stomach (脾 胃不 和)
No. of studies
N = 47
N = 33
N = 15
N = 21
N = 14
N = 17
N = 9
N = 6
N = 10
Acupointsb
Shenmen (HT7)
55.3%
54.5%
40.0%
47.6%
64.3%
47.1%
88.9%
50.0%
40.0%
Yintang (EX-HN3)
29.8%
24.2%
20.0%
23.8%
35.7%
23.5%
33.3%
33.3%
30.0%
Sanyinjiao (SP6)
53.2%
42.4%
46.7%
42.9%
42.9%
29.4%
44.4%
33.3%
50.0%
Baihui (GV20)
34.0%
33.3%
20.0%
/
35.7%
35.3%
44.4%
33.3%
/
Anmian (EX-HN22)
25.5%
24.2%
/
23.8%
/
23.5%
55.6%
33.3%
20.0%
Sishencong (EX-HN1)
23.4%
24.2%
/
28.6%
21.4%
/
33.3%
33.3%
30.0%
Xinshu (BL15)
72.3%
39.4%
/
42.9%
42.9%
35.3%
/
83.3%
/
Neiguan (PC6)
34.0%
30.3%
33.3%
/
57.1%
/
/
33.3%
20.0%
Zhongwan (CV12)
21.3%
27.3%
33.3%
/
57.1%
23.5%
/
/
20.0%
Zusanli (ST36)
44.7%
/
/
/
50.0%
23.5%
22.2%
33.3%
30.0%
Fengchi (GB20)
23.4%
24.2%
26.7%
/
50.0%
/
44.4%
33.3%
/
Qihai (CV6)
/
24.2%
33.3%
/
42.9%
23.5%
/
/
20.0%
Shenshu (BL23)
/
45.5%
20.0%
38.1%
21.4%
/
/
/
/
Guanyuan (CV4)
/
21.2%
26.7%
/
42.9%
/
/
/
/
Ganshu (BL18)
/
/
40.0%
/
21.4%
/
33.3%
/
/
Pishu (BL20)
51.1%
/
/
/
28.6%
/
/
/
/
Danshu (BL19)
/
/
/
/
/
35.3%
/
83.3%
/
Weishu (BL21)
/
/
/
/
21.4%
/
/
/
30.0%
Taixi (Kl13)
/
42.4%
/
42.9%
/
/
/
/
Zhaohai (KI6)
/
21.2%
/
/
/
/
11.1%
/
/
Xiawan (CV10)
/
/
20.0%
/
21.4%
/
/
/
/
Shenmai (BL62)
/
/
/
/
21.4%
/
11.1%
/
/
Cuanzhu (BL2)
/
/
/
/
21.4%
/
/
33.3%
/
Taichong (LR3)
/
/
40.0%
/
/
/
100.0%
/
/
Fenglong (ST40)
/
/
/
/
57.1%
/
/
/
/
Qingming (BL1)
/
/
/
/
21.4%
/
/
/
/
Xingjian (LR2)
/
/
/
/
/
/
66.7%
/
/
Hegu (Ll4)
/
/
/
/
/
/
22.2%
/
/
Xuehai (SP10)
/
/
/
/
/
/
22.2%
/
/
Yanglingquan (GB34)
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
33.3%
/
Yuyao (EX-HN4)
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
33.3%
/
Sibai (ST2)
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
33.3%
/
Daling (PC7)
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
33.3%
/
Jianjing (GB21)
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
33.3%
/
Tianshu (ST25)
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
20.0%
aStudies on stomach disharmony are too few to give reliable information.
bAcupoints that were used in at least 50% of the studies on a particular TCM pattern are bolded.
