Clinical research progress in stellate ganglion block for insomnia treatment

LIU Shuzhen; WANG Chaoli; HE Meiheng; ZHAO Lan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.04.002

Abstract：Stellate ganglion block(SGB)is a neuromodulation technique that temporarily blocks sympathetic nerve conduction in the cervical-thoracic region using local anesthetic drugs.In recent years,this technique has garnered significant attention in the field of insomnia treatment and has demonstrated notable clinical efficacy.Insomnia is a common sleep disorder closely related to overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system,often manifested by core symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep,sleep maintenance disorders,early awakening,and fatigue after awakening.SGB precisely suppresses abnormally heightened sympathetic nervous system excitability,exerting synergistic effects through multiple pathways including regulating neurotransmitter balance,inhibiting inflammatory responses,and modulating neuroendocrine functions.This restores normal sleep architecture and comprehensively enhances sleep quality.Additionally,this therapy helps patients gradually reduce their dependence on sedative medications such as benzodiazepines,thereby lowering the risks of tolerance and adverse reactions associated with long-term medication use.This review systematically summarizes the current clinical application of SGB in primary and secondary insomnia,deeply analyzes its mechanisms of action,and evaluates its safety,providing references for further refining individualized treatment plans,exploring mechanism targets,and promoting standardized clinical application.