Intelligent Approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine for Insomnia

Overview

Insomnia is a very common health issue, affecting over 40% of the population in Chinese-speaking regions. The impact of insomnia on society, economy, mental health, and physical health is significant, with previous research indicating that insomnia is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, and depression, which can ultimately lead to a decline in quality of life. Treatment for insomnia includes non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions, with clinical practice often utilizing sedative medications for sleep, but with side effects such as dependency, tolerance, daytime drowsiness, and withdrawal symptoms, which make it challenging for patients to find suitable medical treatment. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches insomnia by first conducting a thorough assessment based on individualized patterns (differentiation of body constitution) and evaluating insomnia-related symptoms, followed by an examination of tongue and pulse to determine the correct treatment plan, which may involve acupuncture, herbal medicine or a combination of both (integrative treatment). Due to the complex nature of insomnia, a definitive diagnosis requires neuroimaging and other measures during sleep studies to assess brain wave activity, if possible, to understand the cognitive impact.

In the treatment of insomnia, Chinese medicine first assesses the individual's constitution and symptoms related to insomnia, before incorporating auricular acupuncture and pulse diagnosis. Subsequently, different syndrome types are identified and treated with acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine (dialectical treatment). Since insomnia is often subjective, a definitive diagnosis may require overnight monitoring of brain waves and other parameters in a sleep laboratory. Smart imaging methods can help detect special reaction areas of ear points, while pulse diagnosis equipment can provide objective auxiliary diagnosis and classification of insomnia through pulse wave digital conversion analysis. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of auricular point stimulation in treating insomnia, and this study aims to enhance the therapeutic outcomes for primary insomnia by combining Chinese medicine techniques.