Acupuncture for Insomnia and to aid better sleep
Insomnia is an umbrella term describing a number of different sleep disorders. Using Chinese medical diagnosis we assess each individual, formulate the root cause of the sleep problem and adjust our treatments accordingly.
Research on the benefits of sleep has revealed more about the negative effects of insomnia on body and mind – long term insomnia has been linked to depression and cardiovascular disease. Information is generally a good thing, but it can make insomnia even harder to manage if we restlessly fret about its effects on our long term health.
Acupuncture for sleep problems
Do you suffer any of the following?
- difficulty in maintaining sleep
- trouble getting to sleep
- non-refreshing sleep
- dream disturbed sleep
- fatigue & poor daytime functioning
- a state of hyperactivity during day and night
How does acupuncture help with insomnia?
For chronic insomnia your GP might offer sedative medications. They can be helpful in the short-term, but they are addictive and can cause daytime fatigue. Acupuncturists seek to find the underlying cause of the insomnia and treat it from the root. Research shows some good evidence for the use of acupuncture as an aid to relieve insomnia, but unfortunately to date most studies have been on small sample groups.
During your first consultation your acupuncturist will take a thorough case history looking into various areas of your life such as general health, work and home stresses, constitutional factors, diet and other life style factors. We will explain how we’re working and changes to realistically look out for. The longer the period of your insomnia, the harder it is to shift. Our treatments are aimed at helping to create long term change.
Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to impact areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the ‘analytical’ brain, which is responsible for insomnia and anxiety.
Acupuncture has been found to:
- Increase nocturnal melatonin secretion
- Reduce sympathetic (stress related) nervous system activity
- Regulate the brain’s mood chemistry to help to increase relaxation
Acupuncture can be safely combined with conventional medication for insomnia.
Islington Acupuncture:
For Insomnia
Contact Us