Scientists study the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving insomnia after stroke

A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving insomnia after stroke. Researchers at Korea National Rehabilitation Research Institute assessed whether acupuncture is effective in relieving insomnia.

• Insomnia is a common side effect of stroke, which is mainly caused by anxiety resulting from hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.
• Acupuncture has been commonly used to treat various clinical conditions, especially those that involve pathological changes in neuroendocrinology such as insomnia, as it can regulate the functioning of the heart and brain by stimulating certain acupoints on the body.
• Acupuncture has increasingly been used to manage insomnia. However, there was not any study that focused on the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia after a stroke.
• For the study, the researchers reviewed a total of 13 studies that compared the effects of acupuncture to placebo or other conventional therapy, such as drug use, for the treatment of insomnia after a stroke.
• Based on their meta-analysis, acupuncture was revealed to be more effective than drugs for treating insomnia after stroke, as acupuncture reduced insomnia after stroke.
• Moreover, compared to sham acupuncture, intradermal acupuncture appeared to have significant effects in reducing insomnia after stroke.

In conclusion, the findings of the study indicated that acupuncture could be an effective natural treatment in managing insomnia after stroke.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

To read more stories on other traditional Chinese medicine like acupuncture, visit ChineseMedicine.news today.

Journal Reference:

Lee SH, Lim SM. ACUPUNCTURE FOR INSOMNIA AFTER STROKE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 19 July 2016; 16(228). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1220-z