A network meta-analysis of acupuncture therapy for female insomnia and negative emotions from the perspective of the perimenopausal window.

Researchers analyzed multiple studies to determine which acupuncture treatments work best for perimenopausal women suffering from insomnia and emotional difficulties like anxiety and depression. During perimenopause, hormonal changes often disrupt sleep and emotional well-being, prompting many women to seek alternatives to medication. This comprehensive review examined various acupuncture approaches by searching medical databases through November 2025. The study measured sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and assessed emotional health through nine different anxiety and depression scales. The findings revealed that combining regular acupuncture with auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) was most effective for improving sleep quality in perimenopausal women. For addressing negative emotions like anxiety and depression, balanced acupuncture combined with Xiaoyao powder (a traditional Chinese herbal formula) showed the greatest benefit. Other effective combinations included auricular acupuncture with Western medicine and routine acupuncture with Pentatonic therapy (a form of music therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine principles). Seven different acupuncture interventions demonstrated significant improvements compared to control treatments. These results suggest that acupuncture, particularly when combined with complementary therapies, offers a promising non-pharmaceutical option for perimenopausal women struggling with sleep and emotional challenges. The network meta-analysis approach allowed researchers to compare multiple treatment types simultaneously, providing stronger evidence than individual studies alone. If you're considering acupuncture for perimenopausal symptoms, consult a licensed acupuncturist certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

This network meta-analysis evaluated acupuncture interventions for insomnia and negative emotions in perimenopausal women by systematically searching eight databases through November 2025. Primary outcomes were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), with secondary outcomes assessed through nine validated depression and anxiety scales including HAM-A, HAM-D, SAS, SDS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and Beck inventories. Results indicated routine acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture ranked highest for PSQI improvement, followed by auricular acupuncture with Western medicine, and routine acupuncture with Pentatonic therapy. Seven interventions showed significant effects compared to sham acupuncture (P < 0.05). For negative mood amelioration, balanced acupuncture combined with Xiaoyao powder demonstrated superior efficacy, followed by routine acupuncture with Pentatonic therapy, and abdominal acupuncture with sedative prescriptions plus Western medicine (P < 0.05). Clinical takeaway: Combined acupuncture modalities, particularly routine with auricular acupuncture, provide evidence-based treatment options for perimenopausal insomnia, while balanced acupuncture with herbal supplementation effectively addresses comorbid emotional symptoms.