Objective To explore the efficacy of acupuncture at Sish4nc6ng （四神聪 EX- HN 1） and Baihui （百会 GV 20） as well as the possible mechanism. Methods Eighty cases of insomnia patients treated in our hospital were selected, and randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group according to the random number table method. Conventional treatment was carried out in the control group by giving cliazepam tablets, and acupuncture at EX-HN 1 and GV 20 was conducted in the treatment group. The sleep time and quality, PSQI score, and the level changes of blood glutamic acid （GLU）, y-aminobutyric acid （GABA）, norepinephrine （NE） and dopamine （DA） were compared in the patients in each group before and after treatment. Results Compared with the results before treatment, the time for falling asleep of the patients in the two groups shortened （both P〈0.05）, the levels of GLU and GABA increased （all P〈0.05）, the sleep time was longer （both P〈0.05）, and the levels of NE and DA, as well as the PSQI score reduced （all P〈0.05）. Compared with the control group, the levels of NE and DA, as well as the PSQI score of patients in the treatment group reduced after treatment （P〈0.05）, the time for falling asleep shortened （P〈0.05）, the levels of GLU and GABA increased （P〈0.05）, and the sleep time was longer （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture at EX-HN 1 and GV 20 can prolong the sleep time, improve the sleep quality, and the clinical efficacy is superior to that of western medicine treatment. The mechanism may be related to the synthesis and release of amino acids neurotransmitters.
