Treating Senile Chronic Insomnia with Spirit-Calming and Blood-Nourishing Decoction Combined with Guasha (Scraping) and Acupuncture

Abstract Objective  To observe the efficacy of treating senile chronic insomnia with spirit-calming and blood-nourishing decoction combined with Guasha (scraping) and acupuncture therapy. Methods  Seventy elderly patients with chronic insomnia were included and numbered by their visiting sequence. They were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, 35 patients for each. Spirit-calming and blood-nourishing decoction was given to the control group, whereas Guasha (scraping) and acupuncture were applied together with the spirit-calming and blood-nourishing decoction to the observation group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks before comparing their Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and clinic efficacy. Results  PSQI scores of both groups were significantly lowered. Compared with the control group, the differences are statistically significant ( p  < 0.01). After treatment, the PSQI score of the observation group is (6.80 ± 1.37), whereas that of the control group is (10.83 ± 2.51). PSQI score of the observation group is lower ( p  < 0.01). The effective rate was 85.7% in the observation group and 62.9% in the control group. Difference of the effective rates of both groups is statistically significant ( p  < 0.01). Conclusion  Spirit-calming and blood-nourishing decoction combined with Guasha (scraping) and acupuncture is significantly effective in treating senile chronic insomnia. The combined therapy can effectively relieve the symptoms.