• Jin-Jin Li, Chen Xie, Na Zhao, Cong Wang, and Yun-Fei Chen.
• Central Lab of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
• Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2018 Oct 25; 43 (10): 670-3.

ObjectiveTo analyze the regularity of acupoint selection in the treatment of insomnia by using catgut embedding so as to provide reference and evidence for clinical application.MethodsSixty-six studies about acupoint catgut embedding treatment of insomnia published from 1996 to 2017 were finally selected from the databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Journal of Science and Technology of VIP (VIP), and WanFang Database. The Excel 2016 software was used for data processing and analysis, SPSS 21.0 was employed for descriptive and cluster analyses, and the Clementine 12.0 software was employed to analyze the association regularities of the most frequently used acupoints or acupoint recipes.ResultsThe most frequently selected main acupoints for insomnia by using catgut embedment are Xinshu (BL 15), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18), combined with adjuvant acupoints Danshu (BL 19) and Fenglong (ST 40). The most frequently selected channels are the Bladder and Stomach Meridians, and the most frequently involved body positions are the back and lower limbs. Effective clusterings are BL 20-SP 6, Shenmen (HT 7)-Anmian, ST 40-Shenting (GV 24), Qihai (CV 6)-Jueyinshu (BL 14). Descriptive analysis indicated: ①The stronger correlation acupoint groups between back-shu points are BL 18-BL 23; BL 18，BL 15-BL 23; BL 18，BL 20，BL 15-BL 23. ②The stronger correlation acupoint groups between common acupoints are Neiguan (PC 6)，Zusanli (ST 36) -SP 6; PC 6, HT 7 - SP 6.③The stronger correlation acupoint groups between common acupoints and back-shu points are BL 18, SP 6-BL 23; PC 6, BL 23 - SP 6; ST 36, PC 6, BL 15 - SP 6; BL 18，BL 15，SP 6 - BL 23.ConclusionAcupoint catgut embedding therapy is effective in the treatment of insomnia, being worthy of further popularization in clinical practice.

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