Objective

2

To apply the meridian and collateral thermal sensitivity measurement method to assess the thermal sensitivity status and meridian and collateral changes of the confluence points of eight extra meridians in different syndrome types of primary insomnia，and to explore the application of the eight extra meridians in insomnia syndrome differentiation.

Methods

2

A total of 72 students with insomnia were recruited from three universities in Beijing.Among them，33 cases were classified as heart-spleen deficiency syndrome，27 as liver fire disturbing the heart syndrome，8 as heart-gallbladder

qi

deficiency syndrome，and 4 as phlegm-heat disturbing the heart syndrome.The meridian thermal sensitivity measurement method was used to determine the measurement values，medians，thermal sensitivity coefficients，and incidence of imbalanced points at the confluence points of eight extra meridians.Positive acupoints were summarized to explore the imbalance of the eight extra meridians across different insomnia syndrome types.

Results

2

In patients with heart-spleen deficiency syndrome， the measurement values at Gongsun（SP4），Neiguan（PC6），and Zhaohai （KI6） were higher than those in patients with liver fire disturbing the heart syndrome（

P

<

0.05），and the thermal sensitivity coefficients at Neiguan（PC6） and Shenmai（BL62） were also higher（

P

<

0.05）.For heart-

spleen deficiency syndrome and liver fire disturbing the heart syndrome，the incidence of imbalanced points was ranked in descending order，and acupoints with an incidence greater than 30% were selected.In heart-spleen deficiency syndrome，the confluence points of eight extra meridians with a higher incidence of imbalance were Gongsun（SP4），Houxi（SI3），and Neiguan（PC6）（42.42%）

>

Waiguan（TE5）（36.36%）

>

Shenmai（BL62），Zhaohai（KI6），and Zulinqi（GB41）（33.33%）

>

Lieque（LU7）（30.30%）.In liver fire disturbing the heart syndrome，the confluence points of eight extra meridians with a higher incidence of imbalance were Shenmai（BL62），Zhaohai（KI6），and Waiguan（TE5）（48.15%）

>

Zulinqi（GB41）（37.04%）.There were statistically significant differences in the incidence of imbalanced points at Neiguan（PC6） and Gongsun（SP4） between the heart-spleen deficiency syndrome and liver fire disturbing the heart syndrome（

P

<

0.05）.

Conclusion

2

Liver fire disturbing the heart syndrome of insomnia may be associated with excessive

qi

in the

yin

and

yang

heel vessels，and

yang

link vessels，whereas heart-spleen deficiency syndrome may involve insufficient filling and storage of the thoroughfare vessel，governor vessel，and

yin

link vessel.The thermal sensitivity status of the confluence points of eight extra meridians may provide a reference for investigating meridian and collateral changes，differentiating insomnia syndrome types，and guiding acupoint selection.