Objective To observe the effects and possible mechanism of "old ten needles"acupoints group on the quality of sleep and the degree of excessive arousal in patients with chronic insomnia. Methods A total of 64 patients with chronic insomnia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group

with 32 cases in each group. The acupuncture points in the treatment group were the "old ten needles"acupoints group

and the points in the control group were acupuncture points that had no therapeutic effects on insomnia. Both groups were acupunctured3 times a week for 4 weeks and followed up 8 weeks after the end of treatment. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index（ PSQI）and Hyperarousal Scale（ HAS） scores were obtained before and after treatment. Sleep status including sleep latency

total sleep time

and number of wake after sleep onset（ WASO） was assessed by patient insomnia diary

and serum orexin A content was measured. Results The total scores of PSQI

sleep latency

total sleep time and HAS scores in the treatment group were significantly improved after treatment（ P < 0. 05）

and there was no significant difference between the follow-up and the end of treatment（ P > 0. 05）. The number of WASO and level of orexin A in the treatment group were significantly improved compared with those before treatment（ P < 0. 05）. There were no significant differences in PSQI total score

sleep latency

total sleep time

number of WASO

HAS score

orexin A after treatment and during follow-up when compared with before treatment（ P > 0. 05）. Compared with the control group

the PSQI score

sleep latency

total sleep time

and HAS score were significantly improved after treatment and at followup. The number of WASO and orexin A were significantly improved after treatment（ P < 0. 05）. Conclusion The"old ten needle"acupoints group can improve the sleep quality

total sleep time

number of WASO

sleep latency and excessive arousal in patients with chronic insomnia. Adjusting serum orexin A content may be one of its mechanisms.