Treating insomnia from the interaction of sinew-spirit: practice and reflections on learning meridian-sinew acupuncture from Master of Chinese Medicine Academician Shi Xuemin

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-3240.2026.02.003

Abstract

Abstract:

Acupuncture is a commonly used and effective clinical therapy for insomnia, featuring safety, non-invasiveness and stable therapeutic effects. Director Ye Gaxi is an apprentice of Academician Shi Xuemin, Master of Chinese Medicine. He has systematically explored and verified that Meridian-Sinew Acupuncture based on the meridian-sinew theory exerts a definite curative effect on insomnia.Its mechanism is closely related to the nourishment and protection of cerebral spirit by the running course of meridian-sinews, as well as the holistic regulation of nutrient-defense, qi and blood circulation. This therapy can effectively improve sleep structure and relieve daytime discomforts.Meridian-Sinew Acupuncture treats insomnia holistically based on the integration of sinew-spirit-qi and blood, breaking through the traditional mind-soothing approach. It follows the diagnosis and treatment principles that relaxed sinews calm the spirit, and a calm spirit ensures sound sleep. It further enriches the traditional Chinese medicine etiology and pathogenesis theory of insomnia as well as acupuncture intervention strategies, and provides new ideas and popularizable practical approaches for the standardized and individualized diagnosis and treatment of insomnia in clinical practice.

Key words: Acupuncture therapy, Insomnia, Meridian tendon acupuncture

Pingyan Zhang, Gaxi Ye. Treating insomnia from the interaction of sinew-spirit: practice and reflections on learning meridian-sinew acupuncture from Master of Chinese Medicine Academician Shi Xuemin[J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2026, 15(02): 77-83.

/ / Recommend

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://zhzjdzzz.cma-cmc.com.cn/EN/10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-3240.2026.02.003

https://zhzjdzzz.cma-cmc.com.cn/EN/Y2026/V15/I02/77

References 24

1	赵运浩，罗娴. 失眠的流行病学及发病机制研究进展［J］. 中国临床医生杂志，2023，51（12）：1397-1401.
2	马澜，时晶. 诊断失眠的潜在指标：WFSBP共识声明解读［J］. 中国循证医学杂志，2025，24（7）：845-852.
3	Yang L，Xiao X，Yu L，et al. Neural mechanisms of working memory dysfunction in patients with chronic insomnia disorder［J］. Sleep Med，2023，112：151-158.
4	Valladales-Restrepo LF，Sánchez-Ramírez N，Ospina-Sánchez S，et al. Pharmacological management of acute and chronic insomnia：a cross-sectional study［J］. Clin Neuropharmacol，2024，47（6）：207-212.
5	许军峰. 石学敏教授经筋刺法学术思想解析［J］. 天津中医药，2017，34（10）：649-651.
6	Cao M，Zhu Y，Sun F，et al. Short sleep duration is associated with specific food intake increase among school-aged children in China：a national cross-sectional study［J］. BMC Public Health，2019，19（1）：558.
7	Greenlund IM，Carter JR. Sympathetic neural responses to sleep disorders and insufficiencies［J］. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol，2022，322（3）：H337-H349.
8	Charous SJ，Hutz MJ，Bialek SE，et al. Muscle-nerve-nerve grafting improves facial reanimation in rats following facial nerve injury［J］. Front Neurol，2021，12：723024.
9	Swenarchuk LE. Nerve，muscle，and synaptogenesis［J］. Cells，2019，8（11）：1448.
10	Gordon T. Peripheral nerve regeneration and muscle reinnervation［J］. Int J Mol Sci，2020，21（22）：8652.
11	Ju YS，Videnovic A，Vaughn BV. Comorbid sleep disturbances in neurologic disorders［J］. Continuum （Minneap Minn），2017，23（4，Sleep Neurology）：1117-1131.
12	Micoulaud-Franchi JA，Coelho J，Boileau L，et al. Hypothèses physiopathologiques et diagnostic du trouble insomnie［Pathophysiological hypothesis and diagnosis of insomnia disorder］［J］. Rev Prat，2024，74（3）：275-280.
13	Wang J，Zhao H，Shi K，et al. Treatment of insomnia based on the mechanism of pathophysiology by acupuncture combined with herbal medicine：a review［J］. Medicine （Baltimore），2023，102（11）：e33213.
14	Lack LC，Micic G，Lovato N. Circadian aspects in the aetiology and pathophysiology of insomnia［J］. J Sleep Res，2023，32（6）：e13976.
15	Yu H，Wu Y，Zou S. Methylation levels in the GRIN2B promoter region are associated with bipolar disorder and its anxiety and insomnia symptoms［J］. Exp Ther Med，2025，30（1）：144.
16	Matsuura Y，Hongo S，Taniguchi H，et al. Effect of acupuncture on physical symptoms and quality of life in treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder：a single-arm longitudinal study［J］. J Acupunct Meridian Stud，2022，15（6）：336-346.
17	Du L，Yang D，Wu L，et al. Integration of gut microbiota，serum metabolomic，and network pharmacology to reveal the anti insomnia mechanism of mongolian medicine sugemule-4 decoction on insomnia model rats［J］. Drug Des Devel Ther，2024，18：2617-2639.
18	Dressle RJ，Riemann D. Hyperarousal in insomnia disorder：current evidence and potential mechanisms［J］. J Sleep Res，2023，32（6）：e13928.
19	Drerup M，Roth A，Kane A，et al. Therapeutic approaches to insomnia and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis［J］. Nat Sci Sleep，2021，13：201-207.
20	Meira E Cruz M，Gozal D，Salles C，et al. Interactions between insomnia，sleep disordered breathing and cardiometabolic risk in patients complaining of pain in the orofacial region［J］. Acta Med Port，2025，38（1）：37-41.
21	Wang H，Liu L，Wang C，et al. Acupoint application combined with ear plaster therapy for treating sleep disorders with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease［J］. J Vis Exp，2024，（212）.
22	石晓雨，陈丽萍，李文斌，等. 经典名方防治失眠的研究进展［J］. 中南大学学报（医学版），2023，48（10）：1494-1505.
23	李丽，汪庭娇，严兴科，等. 平行对刺法治疗气虚血瘀型周围性面瘫：随机对照试验［J］. 中国针灸，2024，44（3）：271-275.
24	韩强，侯学思，程璐，等. 针刺治疗老年性失眠选穴规律与特色的分析研究［J］. 中国针灸，2021，41（12）：1405-1408.

[1]	Linxi Sun, Xintong Yu, Ke Wang, Xuqiang Wei, Chenchen Feng, Jia Zhou. Perioperative acupuncture in enhanced recovery after surgery: advantages, challenges and countermeasures [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2026, 15(01): 30-36.
[2]	Xiaoya Wei, Xu Wang, Xinyuan Jiang, Nana Yang, Zeyi Wang, Jianfeng Tu, Cunzhi Liu. Clinical research progress in magnetic resonance imaging for acupuncture treatment of essential hypertension [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2026, 15(01): 43-46.
[3]	Ke Sun, Guangxia Ni. Clinical experience of professor Ni Guangxia in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with multi-directional penetration acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE4) and Waixiyan (EX-LE5) with long needles [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2026, 15(01): 53-56.
[4]	Xibin Xu, Songjiao Li, Hongbo Jia, Yibing Li, Wei Liu, Xiaonong Fan. Interpretation on International Standardized Manipulations of Chinese Medicine Tongguan Liqiao Acupuncture Therapy for Post-Stroke Dysphagia [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2026, 15(01): 57-60.
[5]	Jiangwei Shi, Tong Li, Chun Sun. Acupuncture and brain science: foundational integration, conceptual interpretation, and future perspectives [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(04): 133-139.
[6]	Ninghui Zhi, Dongyan Wang, Hong Huo, Jingyi Li, Yue Liu. Brain protective mechanisms of acupuncture treatment in stroke from the perspective of neuroimaging: current status and reflections [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(04): 140-146.
[7]	Shizhe Deng, Bifang Zhuo, Shangkun Si, Chun Sun, Zhihong Meng. Research on multi-omics mechanisms of acupuncture intervention in post-stroke aphasia: progress and prospects [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(04): 147-152.
[8]	Tianqi Wang, Shu Wang, Chun Sun. Research progress on the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for hypertension [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(04): 153-156.
[9]	Congshu Jiao, Zefei Jiang, Xinjia Zhao, Linjuan Fan, Lu Chen, Jiangwei Shi. Systematic review and Meta-analysis of pure acupuncture in the treatment of essential hypertension [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(04): 161-166.
[10]	Kaixuan Ma, Wenlong Gu, Lili Zhang, Yuzheng Du. Interpretation on International Standardized Manipulations of Chinese Medicine Tiaoshen Yizhi Acupuncture Therapy for Post-stroke Mild Cognitive Impairment [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(04): 173-176.
[11]	Liang Ma, Yang Guo, Yupei Cheng, Yi Guo. Professor Guo Yi's "Four-Unblocking Method" for treating nonspecific low back pain [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(03): 115-118.
[12]	Haibo Cheng. Exploration of the concept of "combined acupuncture and medication for efficacy enhancement and drug reduction" from the perspective of chronic disease prevention and control [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(03): 89-93.
[13]	Yanjun Zhang. Scientific connotations and clinical value of acupuncture and medication: a new path for mechanism innovation and prevention of major diseases [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(03): 94-98.
[14]	Qiaoying Yin, Yani Qian, Huien Lei, Shiliu Wang, Tingting Li, Ruihua Yin, Lu Lu. Combined acupuncture and medication in the treatment of obesity in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with phlegm-dampness syndrome: a randomized controlled trial [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(03): 99-103.
[15]	Peisen Dai, Dongsheng Guo, Chao Zhang, Aifeng Liu, Hongfei Xue, Peijian Wang, Wenda Li, Kuiliang Gao. Research progress on the combined use of acupuncture and medication in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis [J]. Chinese Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Electronic Edition), 2025, 14(03): 104-106.

Please choose a citation manager

Content to export