Abstract:Objective:To observe the clinical effect of balance acupuncture combined with Ziyin Xiehuo prescription for intractable insomnia of yin deficiency with effulgent fire type. Methods:A total of 84 cases of patients with intractable insomnia of yin deficiency with effulgent fire type were divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table method,with 42 cases in each group. The control group was treated with estazolam tablets, and the observation group was additionally treated with balance acupuncture combined with Ziyin Xiehuo prescription based on the treatment of the control group. Both groups were treated for 20 days. Before and after treatment, the Chinese medicine symptom scores, sleep quality including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index(ISI), and anxiety including Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale- 7(GAD- 7) in the two groups were compared. After treatment,the omission rates,commission rates and mean response time of continuous performance test(CPT) [reaction test(RT)、X test(XT)、AX test(TXT)] were recorded. Results:After treatment,the symptom scores of vexation of deficiency type leading to insomnia,severe palpitations,vexing heat in the five centers and usual anxiety as well as the total scores in the two groups were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05), and the above symptom scores and the total score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P< 0.05). After treatment, the scores of PSQI and ISI in the two groups were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the scores of PSQI and ISI in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment,the GAD-7 scores in the two groups were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment, the omission rate and mean response time in the tests of RT, XT and AXT in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);the commission rates in the tests of RT and XT in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of the commission in the AXT test between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion:Balance acupuncture combined with Ziyin Xiehuo prescription can effectively improve the sleep quality and sustained attention of patients with intractable insomnia of yin deficiency with effulgent fire type.