Insomnia refers to a disease manifests as insufficient sleep hours and depth, failing to have normal sleep. We treats insomnia focusing Fengchi (GB 20) and Three Acupoints on the Forehead as well as other relevant acupoints on the base of syndrome differentiation. The treatment works well and her experience is summarized as follows.

1. Emphasize “Fengchi (GB 20)” regulating nutrient-defense. Needling Fengchi (GB 20) can regulate meridian qi circulation of heel vessels, link vessels and Shaoyang channels, so as to achieve normal inward and outward movement of defensive yang and nutrient yin, harmonizing nutrient-defense, thereby realizing state of “being energetic during the day while sleeping soundly at night”.

2. Attach importance to “Three Acupoints on the Forehead” for regulating emotions. Dr. Mo Xiaofeng believes that the prefrontal cortex is involved in the regulation of anxiety, depression and other abnormal emotions in patients with insomnia. Needling the Three Acupoints on the Forehead will stimulate the prefrontal cortex, producing a two-way adjustment, inducing self-healing of the abnormal emotions, thus achieving the effect of anti-anxiety of anti-depression. Moreover, it can stimulate the emotional regulation mechanism of limbic system, and relieve patients’ negative cognition and unhealthy emotions caused by insomnia, so as to break the vicious cycle of insomnia-abnormal emotions in multiple paths, and cure the disease.

3. Concerted application of Fengchi (GB 20) and Three Acupoints on the Forehead for tranquilization. Concerted application of Fengchi (GB 20) and Three Acupoints on the Forehead embodies that “indications of an acupoint include diseases located at the acupoint’s location”, and “indications of an acupoint include diseases related to the running course of the meridian to which the acupoint belongs”. It is possible to directly act on the head and enter the collateral to the brain, thereby obtaining the effect of tranquilization. Mental stability leads to spontaneous harmony of nutrient-defense and yin-yang, so that sleep can be normal.

4. Advocate “treatment based on syndrome differentiation”. For patients with heart-spleen deficiency syndrome, Shenmen (HT 7), Daling (PC 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. are additionally selected. For patients with heart-gallbladder deficiency syndrome, dysphoria, insomnia and light sleep, Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Qiuxu (GB 40), Taichong (LR 3), etc. are additionally selected. For patients with heart-kidney disharmony syndrome, Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Zhaohai (KI 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yongquan (KI 1), etc. are additionally selected for nourishing yin to lessen fire and restoring normal heart-kidney coordination. For patients with hyperactivity of heart-liver fire syndrome, the treatment is soothing liver, purging fire, settling heart and calming mind, and Taichong (LR 3), Xingjian (LR 2), Laogong (PC 3), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), etc. are additionally selected. For patients with internal disturbance of phlegm-heat syndrome, Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Neiting (ST 44) and Neiguan (PC 6) are selected, among which use electro-acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Fenglong (ST 40) for strengthening stimulation to resolve phlegm and food.