A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 18 trials involving nearly 1,400 breast cancer patients found that combining mindfulness-based stress reduction with acupressure significantly improved sleep quality, ranking as the most effective among several acupuncture therapies.
Other interventions that showed benefit included acupressure alone, auricular acupressure, and intradermal needle therapy. However, intradermal needles were associated with a much higher risk of adverse reactions, raising caution for clinical use.
Researchers say these findings support acupuncture-based therapies as safe, non-drug options for managing insomnia in cancer care, with the mindfulness-acupressure combination offering the best balance of efficacy and tolerability.