Efficacy of fumigation with traditional Chinese medicine combined with Acanthopanax Senticosus injection in patients with sleep disorders

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fumigation and washing combined with Acanthopanax senticosus injection in patients with sleep disorders.

Methodology: The clinical data total of 106 patients with sleep disorders treated at Yan’an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2023 to January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: the control group (n=51) received routine care with dexzopiclone; the study group (n=55) received additional TCM fumigation and Acanthopanax senticosus injection. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep structure was monitored via polysomnography (PSG), and quality of life was evaluated using the GQOLI-74 scale. Safety indicators and adverse events were also recorded.

Results: After the intervention, the study group showed significantly greater improvements in PSQI scores compared to the control group (P<0.001). PSG parameters indicated fewer nocturnal arousals, shorter arousal time and sleep latency, and higher sleep efficiency in the study group (P<0.05). Quality of life scores across physical, psychological, social, and mental domains also improved significantly more in the study group. No adverse events were reported during the study.

Conclusions: TCM fumigation and washing combined with Acanthopanax senticosus injection may serve as an effective, well-tolerated, and non-invasive therapy for improving sleep quality and life quality in patients with sleep disorders. The therapy may be particularly beneficial for individuals with poor tolerance to hypnotic medications or stress-related insomnia. Further prospective randomized trials with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy.