Article Article type Sample description Treatment condition Type of treatment Acupoints, exp Acupoints, ctrl Sleep assessment Main results Hammes et al., 2014 [38 ] Case report 49-y postmenopausal woman 1 NA 22 sessions, weekly or biweekly Body and auricular acupuncture Sessions 1–6: LI-4, LR-3, CV-6, CV-17, HT-6, KI-6, KI-2, GV-20, auricular: ShenMen, kidney Sessions 7–22: LI-4, LR-3, CV-4, CV-6, CV-17, HT-6, KI-6, GB-41, GV-20, auricular: ShenMen, kidney NA Insomnia self-report Improvement Baccetti et al., 2014 [39 ] Randomized controlled trial Postmenopausal women, ≥3 hot flushes episodes/day 47 49 Twice a week, during four weeks B Stimulation with star needles in dorsal region C7-T5. Electrostimulation: dispersion (100 cycles/s) on GV-23, CV-22, BL-2, LI-11, and LI-4; tonification (40 cycles/s) on SP-10 and SP-6; and tonification with GV-20, CV-4, CV-6, ST-37, and LR-3 None 1–4 scale about sleep disorders severity Improvement Hachul et al., 2013 [35 ] Randomized controlled trial Postmenopausal women, insomnia 9 9 Twice a week, during five weeks Body acupuncture Not reported Sham acupoints PSQI and PSG Improvements in SWS at PSG and in PSQI score Painovich et al., 2012 [30 ] Randomized controlled trial Peri- and postmenopausal women, at least seven VMS/day 12 9/12 Three times a week, during 12 weeks Body acupuncture GV-20, PC-6, HT-7, LV-3, LI-4, LI-11, KI-3, SP-6, ST-36, CV-17, CV-6, GV-14, GB-15, GB-18, GB-20, GB-23, GB-34, and KI-3 Sham or none PSQI Nonsignificant Kung et al., 2011 [36 ] Cohort Postmenopausal women, insomnia 45 NA Daily before sleep, during four weeks Auricular acupuncture ShenMen, kidney, heart, brainstem, and subcortex NA PSQI Improvements in PSQI score, sleep latency, total sleep duration, and sleep efficiency Borud et al., 2009 [40 ] Multicentric randomized controlled trial Postmenopausal women, at least seven hot flushes/day 134 133 10 sessions over 12 weeks Body acupuncture (elective additional moxibustion) Individualized and customized treatment None Sleep logs and WHQ Improvement in total sleep time Borud et al., 2010 [34 ] Follow-up on Borud et al., 2009 [40 ] Postmenopausal women, at least seven hot flushes/day 134 133 NA NA NA NA WHQ Maintenance of results, as in Borud et al., 2009 [40 ] Avis et al., 2008 [32 ] Randomized controlled trial Peri- or postmenopausal women, at least four hot flushes/day 19 18 Twice a week, during eight weeks Body acupuncture CV-4, KI-3, SP-6, BL-23, HT-6, KI-7 (possible additional points depending on diagnostic: KI-6, KI-10, GV-4, CV-6, BL-52, LR-3, LR-8, GB-20, BL-18, PC-7, GB-13, GV-20, taiyang, HT-7, HT-8, Yintang, CV-15, BL-15) Sham acupoints Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale Nonsignificant Huang et al., 2006 [31 ] Randomized controlled trial Postmenopausal women, at least 7 moderate or severe hot flushes/day 12 17 Nine sessions, during seven weeks Body acupuncture 5–7 acupoints from a previously defined list Sham acupoints PSQI Nonsignificant
Hu, 2005 [37 ] Case report 51-y postmenopausal woman 1 NA Three times a week, duration not clear Body and auricular acupuncture BL-23, BL-15, PC-7, HT-7, Anmian (extra), SP-6, LR-3, KI-3, BL-18, BL-20, GV-20, GV-24, EX-HN 3 Auricular: subcortex, sympathesis, ear-ShenMen, endocrine, ovary, kidney, spleen, and heart NA Insomnia self-report Improvement Cohen et al., 2003 [33 ] Randomized controlled trial Postmenopausal woman, self- identification of menopausal hot flashes 8 9 Irregular schedule, total six sessions Body acupuncture BL-15, BL-23, BL-32, GV-20, HT-7, PC-6, SP-6, SP-9, LI-3 Standard treatment, not related to menopause 0–3 scale about sleep disorders severity Nonsignificant between groups comparison Improvement in within-group comparison Bijak, 2009 [29 ] Case report 59-y postmenopausal woman 1 NA Once a week, ten weeks Body and auricular acupuncture BL-17 (until the 4th session), BL-43 (5th until the 10th session), KI-3, BL-31, HT-3, LI-3, auricular: Jerome's point and sleep point (until the 4th session) NA Insomnia self-report Improvement
