To assess the clinical therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding at head-acupoint combined with massage of sole on refractory insomnia.Forty-nine cases were randomly divided into an observation group (n=25) and a control group (n=24). The observation group was treated with acupoint catgut embedding at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), etc. combined with massage of sole; the control group was treaded with oral administration of Estazolam. The clinical therapeutic effects and scores for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed before and after treatment in the two groups.The total effective rate was 92.0% (23/25) in the observation group and 83.3% (20/24) in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). After treatment, there were significant differences in scores for various factor in the PSQI (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), except day time functional state in the control group. The improvements of sleep quality, time duration of patients going into sleep, sleep disorder and daytime functional state in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The control group was superior to the observation group in the prolongation of hours of sleep (P < 0.05).Acupoint catgut embedding at head-acupoint combined with massage of sole can obviously improve sleeping quality and daytime functional state of the patients with insomnia.