Objective To compare the different efficacy in treating patients with chronic insomnia by pricking,acupuncture and estazolam.Methods Sixty patients were divided into pricking group（group A）,acupuncture group（group B） and western medicine group（group C） according to the random number table,with 20 cases in each group.In group A,hook-type needles were applied on Shenmai（申脉 BL 62） and Zhaohai（照海 Kl 6） bilaterally by piercing the skin,a small amount of mucus was squeezed and subcutaneous fibers were broken;in group B,disposable acupuncture needles were applied by needling BL 62 and Kl 6 bilaterally at the depth of 0.5 cun;in group C,patients were asked to take 1 mg estazolam once a day at bedtime.The three groups were observed for 28 days,and Epworth scores and improvement of symptoms in daytime dysfunction were recorded.Results The total effective rate of improvement of symptoms in daytime dysfunction of group A（100%,20/20） was superior to that of group B（70%,14/20）,and the differences were statistically significant（P〈0.05）;the total effective rates of group A and group B were superior to that of group C（25%,5/20）,and the differences were statistically significant（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）.In terms of Epworth scores,the efficacy of group A was significantly superior to that of group B（13.35±2.85 vs 11.10±3.88,P〈0.05）,the efficacy of group A was superior to that of group C（13.35±2.85 vs 5.30±3.28,P〈0.01）,and the efficacy of group B was superior to that of group C（11.10±3.88 vs 5.30±3.28,P〈0.01）.Epworth scores significantly decreased in each group after treatment（P〈0.01）.Conclusion The therapy of pricking BL 62 and Kl 6 for patients of chronic insomnia was effective,daytime sleepiness was relieved and daytime dysfunctions were improved,and the therapy was superior to estazolam,and more advantageous than acupuncture.
