Daoqi acupuncture improved breathing disturbances, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life more effectively than conventional acupuncture while using fewer, gentler needle sites.
Sixty adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome were randomly assigned to receive either Daoqi acupuncture based on principles from the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic or conventional acupuncture. Both treatments were delivered every other day, three times weekly, across three treatment courses. Researchers assessed overnight sleep-study measures of breathing interruption and oxygenation, alongside questionnaires measuring daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and quality of life before and after treatment.
Both acupuncture approaches improved breathing-related sleep measures, reduced daytime sleepiness, improved sleep quality, and enhanced quality of life. Daoqi acupuncture produced greater improvements in oxygen saturation, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and several quality-of-life domains than conventional acupuncture, while achieving similar overall clinical effectiveness with a simpler selection of acupuncture points and gentler stimulation.
