Abstract
BACKGROUND: Insomnia commonly co-occurs with ischemic stroke (IS), especially in patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis, but effective treatments are limited. This study examines the impact of a self-made Jianpi Huoxue Jieyu formula on IS-related insomnia, aiming to provide insights for its pharmacological management. METHODS: Ninety IS patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis accompanied by insomnia were randomly assigned to 2 groups (45 each) at the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine (2022-2023). The control group received standard treatment, while the observation group received additional treatment with the Jianpi Huoxue Jieyu formula. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using traditional Chinese medicine symptom scales, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, TXB2, PAF, 5-HT, BDNF, and NGF were measured to explore the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: After treatment, traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, PSQI, NIHSS scores, and levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, TXB2, and PAF were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group, while levels of 5-HT, BDNF, and NGF were higher (P < .05). The clinical efficacy in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The Jianpi Huoxue Jieyu formula is safe and effective for treating IS-related insomnia due to Qi deficiency and blood stasis, potentially by reducing inflammation and enhancing neurological function and sleep quality.