Tossing and turning in the dead of night, many of us have found ourselves desperate for a solution to the relentless grip of insomnia. In our quest for peaceful slumber, we often explore a variety of remedies, from herbal teas to meditation apps. Yet, amidst this search to treat insomnia, one ancient practice stands out: acupuncture.

Can Insomnia be Treated with Acupuncture?

Around ten percent of people experience some form of insomnia during their life. It’s common for the disorder to appear due to increased levels of stress and anxiety in a person’s life.

Regardless of the cause, insomnia makes it hard to cope with your waking life. Therefore, you always feel tired, and when you want to fall asleep, it never comes. As a result, you feel desperate.

People with insomnia resort to using supplements like melatonin or Zopiclone to fall asleep. Unfortunately, using these supplements and drugs can have adverse side effects, such as feeling groggy the following morning. It is also important to note that they may also be habit-forming.

Health Impacts of Insomnia

There are three stages of insomnia: acute, episodic, and chronic. A lack of sleep affects the brain and body, damaging memory centers and issues with cognition. Also, some studies link insomnia to severe adverse health conditions like heart attacks.

You can experience amazing relief with a single acupuncture treatment session.

Acupuncture Treatment For Insomnia

An acupuncture session involves a trained, qualified therapist. They will insert 15 to 20 needles into specific points and strategic positions around the body. The needles penetrate pressure points, known as meridians to improve the flow of Qi or life energy throughout the body.

This therapy believes that insomnia is caused by blockages in energy points, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The needles clear blockages, improving energy flow in the body and helping you overcome insomnia. Acupuncture may also be a complementary therapy for sleep apnea. It offers some benefits in terms of relaxation and stress reduction, potentially helping with sleep quality.

Acupuncture offers the following benefits and improves sleep quality:

• Stop waking during the night.
• Increase total time asleep.
• Reduce sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep).
• Decrease anxiety and hormonal imbalance causing the issue.

One of the key causes of insomnia is an increase in the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline produced by the kidneys. The acupuncture therapist inserts needles around the back to reduce the levels of these sleep-disrupting hormones.

What are the Benefits of Acupuncture for Treating Insomnia?

There are many applications for acupuncture therapy. Many of them revolve around treating chronic pain problems as an alternative to drug therapy. Studies on acupuncture therapy show it affects the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, GABA, glutamate, histamine, and norepinephrine.

These chemicals are essential for activating the sleep state. They switch the brainwaves from the awakened state to the relaxed state and prepare the mind and body for sleep. Acupuncture strengthens the body’s sleep/waking cycle, known as the circadian rhythm (CR). The CR is responsible for winding you down in the evening.

As a result of feeling stressed, being exposed to too much blue light during the evening, and poor sleep hygiene affect the CR and your ability to fall asleep. Acupuncture therapy helps to strengthen the circadian rhythm, improving sleep latency and quality.

You Don’t Need Drugs, Try Acupuncture Instead

Dealing with insomnia is challenging, and doing nothing about it ruins your sleep and your quality of life. Unfortunately, turning to medications as a solution leaves you in a predicament. Treating the disorder with drugs or hormonal supplements won’t resolve the underlying issue causing the problem.

Acupuncture therapy offers a sustainable, effective method of treating the root of insomnia. As a result, you’ll alleviate your sleep problems with a few sessions and finally get the rest you need.

As a result, many people find relief from various ailments through the effectiveness of acupuncture. Try it today as a treatment option and experience the difference in your sleep quality for yourself.

Southlake Natural Family Wellness

Our mission is to support the health and well-being of our patients.

We offer individualized, comprehensive holistic care including acupuncture, herbal recommendations, customized nutritional counseling, allergy elimination (NAET), whole food supplements, lifestyle suggestions, moxibustion, and cupping. As well as helping couples get pregnant and STAY pregnant by supporting all the paths to conception.

About Farrah Hamraie

Farrah Hamraie, L.Ac, MOM, Dipl.OM (NCCAOM), is licensed and board-certified in Acupuncture and Herbal medicine in the State of Texas with a Masters of Oriental Medicine from the Dallas College of Oriental Medicine.

She is also a Diplomat of NCCAOM (the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), a Board Certified Acupuncturist, a Chinese Herbalist, and a member of the American Association of Oriental Medicine.