Treatment of insomnia of liver depression transforming into fire type with acupuncture at "Paired Shenmen acupoints" combined with modified Danzhi Xiaoyao San: a case report and mechanism discussion
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
With the increasingly fierce social competition and long-term mental stress, insomnia of liver stagnation transforming into fire type has become more and more common. This syndrome is mainly characterized by persistent failure to obtain normal sleep, accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, dry mouth and bitter taste. It is mostly caused by emotional disorder, and its pathogenesis is liver failing to disperse and dredge, Qi stagnation transforming into fire, and fire disturbing the heart spirit, which is generally attributed to Yang hyperactivity and Yin decline as well as disharmony between Yin and Yang. Promoting the liver and regulating the spirit is often adopted as the clinical therapeutic principle for this type of insomnia. As a key acupoint for tranquilizing the mind, hand Shenmen (HT7) and auricular acupoint Shenmen (TF4) plays an important role in the treatment. This article presents clinical experience in treating insomnia with the combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in a patient, which has demonstrated favorable therapeutic outcomes.
Article Details
References
Chinese Sleep Research Society. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia disorder (2025 edition). Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2025;105(34):2960-81.
Janson C, Lindberg E, Gislason T, Elmasry A, Boman G. Insomnia in men—a 10-year prospective population based study. Sleep. 2001;24(4):425-30.
Huang LL, Lu YW, Li GY, Li PZ, Li SS, Qin XD. Exploration of clinical advantages of combined acupuncture and medication in the treatment of primary insomnia based on data mining. China Med Herald. 2025;22(26):100-6. (in Chinese)
Wang HJ. Liver failing to store the hun is the key core mechanism of insomnia. Lishizhen Medicine and Materia Medica Research. 2015;26(5):1191-2. (in Chinese)
Zhao YH, Luo X. Progress in epidemiological characteristics and pathogenesis of insomnia. Chinese Journal for Clinicians. 2023;51(12):1397-401. (in Chinese)
Dopheide JA. Insomnia overview: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and monitoring and nonpharmacologic therapy. Am J Manag Care. 2020;26(4 Suppl):S76-84.
Huang YS. Study on the characteristics of sleep structure and HPA axis regulation mechanism in rats with liver depression and fire syndrome [dissertation]. Chengdu: Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2021. (in Chinese)
Yu ZZ, Zhang XQ, Wang J, Liu J. Research progress of diversified acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia of liver stagnation transforming fire type. Journal of Practical Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine. 2025;39(8):20-3. (in Chinese)
Jia MJ, Zhao YD, Zheng Y, Cheng JY, Wang XQ, Lei FF, et al. Clinical research progress of acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia of liver depression transforming fire type. Journal of Practical Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine. 2023;37(7):13-5. (in Chinese)
Li BF. Classical literature research on acupuncture and moxibustion for insomnia [dissertation]. Fuzhou: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2020. (in Chinese)
Wang JW, Liao WZ, Dai M. Research on the mechanism of acupuncture on insomnia. Global Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2024;17(5):941-6. (in Chinese)
Lu XF, Wu H, Li XX, Chen SL, Xue LX, Yang YH. Effect of auricular Shenmen point pressure on anxiety symptoms of elderly patients with anxiety disorder in community. Chinese Journal of General Practice. 2023;21(2):275-8,91. (in Chinese)
Lou YH. A randomized controlled study of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for insomnia disorder [dissertation]. Anhui: Bengbu Medical University; 2024. (in Chinese)
Liu XL. The research of fast inserting double Shenmen points in acupuncture needle in treating insomnia [dissertation]. Jinan: Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2009. (in Chinese)
Huang SZ, Wu TA, Deng N, Luo ZW, Liu H, Zhou Y. Research progress on the clinical application and mechanism of action of the four gates acupoints. Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2025;41(5):161-5. (in Chinese)
Li CM, Li HX, Huang XQ. Clinical study on liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture combined with Danzhi Xiaoyao powder for the treatment of liver-Qi stagnation and fire-transformation type insomnia. Journal of Medical Science Yanbian University. 2024;47(4):481-3. (in Chinese)
