How Acupuncture Can Help Insomnia Sufferers

If you struggle to fall asleep (and stay asleep) most nights, you aren’t alone. In fact, the CDC (or Center for Disease Control) officially declared sleep deprivation to be a public health epidemic in 2014.

Even if this sounds like it’s a bit extreme, think of how you feel when you haven’t gotten the sleep you need the night before. Sleep loss, especially chronic deprivation, takes a huge toll on your body. And not just because you have bags under your eyes- your brain doesn’t function as well, nor does your body. Many turn to caffeine to try to combat the feelings of constant tiredness, but it’s no substitute for the real thing.

Not only do you feel more physically tired, but according to a study in 2013 showed the link between poor sleep with increased signs of aging, as well as slower recovery time from various environmental stressors such as UV radiation from the sun.

While it’s true that you can turn to sleep medications to help you achieve the good night’s sleep you need, these are not usually recommended for use on a long-term basis. Some sleep medications can be addictive both physically and psychologically and can come with serious potential side effects. Due to this, more and more people are seeking out alternatives, and acupuncture can be the solution you’ve been searching for.

Are You Tired of Being Tired? Acupuncture Can Help

For centuries, acupuncturists have been successfully helping people with their insomnia, and continue to do so to this day. There are several kinds of insomnia including:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble falling back asleep
• Terminal/Late insomnia, I.e. waking up in the very early morning hours and being unable to fall back asleep again
• Sleep with unusually vivid and disruptive dreaming
• Inability to sleep in general

Pinpointing which kind of insomnia you have is important because it indicates a unique issue within your body system, and each type of insomnia is treated differently. Keep in mind though, that your insomnia won’t be cured with a singular trip to the acupuncturist- it takes time to resolve this issue and a proper treatment plan. Many patients who go in for insomnia report a feeling of calmness and relaxation that he or she has not experienced in quite some time, while others report an involuntary release of emotions. Whichever of the two you feel, just know that it means you’re on the track towards the good night’s sleep you’ve been craving and daydreaming about as you lay sleepless in your bed at night.