Evidence mapPaperPMID 41570299Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2026

Curative Effect and Autonomic Nerve Function of Patients With Primary Insomnia of Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency Type Based on the Acupoint Selection of Meridian Theory: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Su Fu, Kang He, Chuanlong Zhou

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Su FuDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 219 Moganshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310005, China, 86 15868486255.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-4695-4359
Kang He *Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 219 Moganshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310005, China, 86 15868486255.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-4495-5554
Chuanlong Zhou *Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 219 Moganshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310005, China, 86 15868486255.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-9309-8543

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Primary insomnia often corresponds to the syndrome of liver depression and spleen deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine. This study evaluates a new acupuncture protocol derived from the "Jing Bie" theory. Tianrong (TE16) and Tianyou (SI17) were selected to regulate the Shaoyang meridian, soothe the liver, regulate qi (the basic life energy or life force to maintain the physiological function of the body according to traditional Chinese medicine), strengthen the spleen, and tranquilize the mind, so as to restore sleep. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of this regimen and to explore its effects on autonomic nervous system function and central nervous system chemistry. Methods: This is a single-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 96 patients with primary insomnia (liver depression and spleen deficiency pattern) will be recruited and randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group. At the same time, 48 healthy volunteers will be recruited as the healthy control group. Results: This study was funded in November 2023. Recruitment and data collection began in January 2024 and are currently underway. As of December 2025, a total of 40 participants have been enrolled, of whom 4 have withdrawn. Recruitment is projected to conclude by December 2026. Data analysis will be performed after the completion of recruitment. The results are expected to be published in summer 2027. Conclusions: This study integrates a traditional Chinese medicine framework with modern physiological measurements. The aim is to provide evidence for targeted acupuncture strategies by linking clinical improvement to autonomic nervous system balance and neurochemical changes and to elucidate potential mechanisms to provide a nondrug treatment option for insomnia.

Indexed as

Acupuncture PointsAcupuncture TherapyAutonomic Nervous SystemLiver DiseasesMeridiansSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersAdultFemaleHumansLiverMaleMedicine, Chinese TraditionalMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSingle-Blind MethodSpleenacupunctureautonomic nerve functionJing Bie theoryliver stagnation and spleen deficiency insomniarandomized controlled trialtraditional Chinese medicine

Identifiers

PMID41570299
PMCPMC12826640

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.