Millions of adults in the U.S. have difficulty falling and staying asleep. Enhancing sleep hygiene can help remove some of the obstacles to high-quality sleep. Still, a good number of people who practice proper sleep hygiene have chronic insomnia.

While being pricked by thin needles might not be the solution you had in mind when enhancing your sleep quality, research shows that acupuncture treatment can be an effective therapy. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular as more individuals seek alternatives to conventional sleep medications. Read this blog to learn how acupuncture can help improve sleep.

Acupuncture Therapy for Insomnia

For many people, achieving good sleep is frustrating. An average healthy grown-up should sleep for 7 to 9 hours every night. Unfortunately, however, some people struggle to attain this, falling under the group of people with insomnia. Insomnia can be categorized into two types: primary and secondary insomnia.

Primary insomnia is not directly linked to any other problem or health condition. Secondary insomnia, on the other hand, results as a side effect or symptom of another problem, for example, health conditions (like asthma, arthritis, depression, or heartburn); substances such as alcohol; or medication.

Insomnia can also be categorized by its duration: chronic and acute insomnia. Acute insomnia is a short-term problem that can last for a few weeks or days. It is usually caused by life circumstances, such as receiving bad or stressful news, traveling, or other temporary stresses on a person's environment or body. Chronic insomnia is a long-term issue that persists for a minimum of 3 nights a week for 3 months or longer. This can be caused by several factors, including nighttime habits or routines that disrupt sleep, particular chronic health conditions, or longstanding life stresses.

Insomnia, whether primary, secondary, chronic, or acute, varies from one person to another. Symptoms may also vary. They include the following:

  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Very early awakenings
  • Broken or fragmented sleep
  • Waking up while exhausted
  • Dream-disturbed sleep

It is also not unusual for people who have insomnia to experience daytime consequences such as

  • Persistent tiredness and extreme fatigue
  • Depression
  • Memory loss
  • Anxiety
  • Increased accidents or errors
  • Difficulty focusing on tasks, paying attention, or recalling things
  • Distress in the intestines and stomach
  • Tension headaches

As mentioned, different causes can trigger insomnia, for example, daily habits, stress, chronic pain, irregular sleep schedules, medical conditions like sleep apnea, and anxiety. These factors can unbalance the body's natural sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm. Acupuncture helps balance the cycle and relax the mind, achieving a good night's rest.

To some individuals, acupuncture for insomnia might sound strange at first. Nevertheless, acupuncture, a form of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), has been widely embraced worldwide as a natural therapy for a wide range of conditions, such as insomnia, with a high success rate. Here are the various causes of insomnia that acupuncture can address:

Anxiety, Stress, and Insomnia

Unluckily, many individuals are conversant with overthinking, anxiety, and stress, and their capacity to keep them awake all night. The additional stress of staying wide awake late at night, worrying about not being able to sleep, is not helpful either. Being highly anxious or stressed is a very prevalent reason for disrupted sleep. Often, acupoints, known for calming the mind, are used in acupuncture therapy to produce a calming impact.

Research has shown that whenever acupoints are pricked, the body generates opioid peptides that create a calming and analgesic effect on the central nervous system, enabling you to relax more easily. Apart from relieving sleep problems, acupoints have also proven to be effective in alleviating chronic pain, which could be another prevalent cause of sleep disturbances.

Sleep Apnea and Insomnia

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing while sleeping. This condition can lead to oxygen deprivation at night, leaving the person fatigued the following day, even after a full night's sleep.

In 2020, a review of 9 studies that involved almost 600 participants was conducted. According to this review, acupuncture therapy significantly reduces obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, sleepiness ratings, and oxygen saturation levels. This was particularly true among patients with moderate and severe cases.

Chronic Pain and Insomnia

Some individuals have difficulty sleeping because of chronic pain. Chronic pain lasts for a minimum of three months. A review in 2019 of 9 studies involving almost 1,000 participants with insomnia due to chronic pain deduced that acupuncture therapy was more effective at enhancing sleep quality than medication or sham treatment.

Depression and Insomnia

Sleep-related problems are more prevalent among individuals with depression. There are limited studies suggesting that acupuncture therapy might help. A study carried out in 2020 of 90 participants with insomnia and depression revealed that 3 sessions per week of electropuncture for eight weeks improved sleep efficiency, sleep quality, depression, and total sleep duration. The improvements were considerably greater than those experienced with placebo or sham treatment.

Primary Insomnia

Even though more studies should be conducted, there is some evidence that suggests that acupuncture can assist individuals with insomnia that is not a result of any specific cause. In a study conducted in 2017, researchers gave sham acupuncture or traditional acupuncture, where they do not insert needles as deeply into the skin, to seventy-two patients who had primary insomnia. The treatment was administered to patients three times a week for four weeks.

The study concluded that acupuncture therapy was highly effective at alleviating sleep deficiency and insomnia symptoms and improving sleep time during treatment. The participant's self-rated anxiety and sleep awakenings also improved considerably two and four weeks after therapy.

A study in 2013 that included 180 participants who had primary insomnia concluded that traditional acupuncture treatment was highly effective at improving daytime functioning and sleep quality compared to the sedative drug estazolam or sham acupuncture.

Acupuncture treatment is an alternative to medicines such as benzodiazepines used to manage insomnia. The United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) cautions that benzodiazepines frequently lead to abuse, misuse, and addiction, even if taken as prescribed. Acupuncture is a safe treatment option. It encourages healing from within, posing lesser risks to patients than the use of drugs.

How Acupuncture Alleviates the Causes of Insomnia

Here is how acupuncture therapy targets the primary reasons behind insomnia:

  • It regulates sleep hormones. Acupuncture treatment has been proven to boost the production of melatonin, which communicates to the body when it is time to sleep.
  • It calms the mind. Stress is among the most significant causes of insomnia. Acupuncture therapy activates the parasympathetic nervous system, essentially the body's rest and digest mode, helping you relax and unwind.
  • It encourages deep and restorative sleep. Routine acupuncture sessions can teach your body to settle into those essential stages of deep sleep, where the body and brain truly recharge.
  • It alleviates physical discomfort. Pain interferes with sleep. Whether it is migraines, muscle tension, or back pain. Acupuncture helps lower inflammation and enhance blood flow, so you are not tossing and turning all night.

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment has proven to be effective in alleviating insomnia symptoms. For some individuals who have insomnia, receiving acupuncture treatments regularly for 1 to 2 months can:

  • Enhance sleep quality
  • Decrease anxiety
  • Reduce wakings at night
  • Increase sleep time
  • Alleviate pain

Patients whose insomnia is associated with depression, chronic pain, or menopause may particularly benefit from acupuncture treatment.

How Acupuncture Treatment for Insomnia Is Like

In an ordinary acupuncture therapy session, the acupuncturist will assess the patient's condition and insert from 5 to 20 acupuncture needles. They will then leave each need in position for approximately 10-15 minutes. However, one individual suffering from insomnia might receive a completely different acupuncture therapy than another. Also, the same individual might receive different therapies from one session to another.

That is because acupuncture practitioners base their choice of acupuncture points on their evaluation of how qi (energy) is flowing along pathways known as meridians in the body. Acupuncture treatment aims to resolve disruptions, imbalances, and blockages in qi flow, thereby alleviating complaints such as difficulty sleeping or pain.

What You Should Expect From the Treatment Process

Your acupuncture practitioner will perform a comprehensive health history assessment and work together with you to establish the underlying reasons for your lack of sleep. Treatment might differ from patient to patient based on the reason for the imbalance within the body.

Many daily and lifestyle habits can result in insomnia. Some of these habits are more prevalent than others. Examples of habits that affect sleep, like eating right before sleep or distractions like working directly before bed or TV time, might be the most common causes of poor sleep routines. However, other causes, such as light exposure, might not be so well-known. Your practitioner will track and record your day-to-day sleeping routines and develop better habits that will help you have a good night's sleep.

What You Should Know Before Choosing Acupuncture for Insomnia

Generally, acupuncture is deemed safe, and it is very unlikely to suffer major complications. Like any procedure that involves sharp instruments and needles, acupuncture has a risk of skin irritation, disease transmission, and infection. United States regulations require that acupuncturists use sterile needles, as they significantly reduce these risks. Pain and bleeding can also arise, though rarely.

If you suffer from a bleeding disorder, are pregnant, or use blood thinners, you should inform your practitioner about your condition before you receive treatment. If you have a pacemaker, you should not undergo electroacupuncture. And you should avoid acupuncture if your immune system is compromised.

Tips for Maximizing Your Acupuncture for Insomnia Treatment

If you are ready to consider acupuncture, here is how you can make it more effective and provide better results:

  • Set the mood at home. Develop a relaxing bedtime routine. Dim the lighting, take calming teas, and unplug from screens.
  • Pair treatment with healthy sleep routines. Acupuncture works more effectively when combined with proper sleep hygiene.
  • Share your history. Inform your practitioner about your stress levels, sleep habits, and other health concerns. The more the acupuncturist knows, the more customized your treatment.
  • Be consistent. Treatment with acupuncture is not a magic "one-and-done" fix. Commit yourself to weekly sessions first and keep adjusting as your sleep improves.
  • Be patient. Like other natural remedies, acupuncture takes time. Stick to it, and you will start to notice meaningful results.

Benefits of Acupuncture Treatment for Insomnia

Not receiving adequate sleep during the night can significantly affect your productivity throughout the day. It may also cause mental cloudiness, depression, and weight gain. Inconsistent sleep patterns and poor everyday habits can have negative impacts on your brain, heart, immune system, and mood as well. Since sleep is essential for a person's overall function, addressing insomnia with acupuncture treatment may also start to provide additional benefits, such as the following:

  • Higher energy
  • More restful sleep
  • Lower stress and reduced anxiety levels
  • Higher mental clarity
  • Fewer headaches
  • Better digestion

Additional Insomnia Treatment

Whereas acupuncture therapy is a secure, drug-free option for insomnia and other sleep disturbances, it is only one of many available treatments for alleviating symptoms and enhancing sleep. If you have insomnia, you should speak with your doctor or sleep specialist about what treatment will best suit your needs. Some of these treatments are the following:

  • Sleep medications
  • Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)
  • Homeopathic treatments, such as yoga, aromatherapy, or melatonin
  • Lifestyle changes

Tips for Improved Sleep

Maintaining proper sleep habits after or along with acupuncture treatment is crucial in helping avert the symptoms of insomnia from recurring. Some of the tips that can help you include the following:

  • Maintaining a proper sleep environment
  • Avoiding alcoholic beverages at least four hours before bed
  • Keeping a consistent sleep pattern, even on the weekends.
  • Avoiding caffeine past 2 p.m.
  • Getting a minimum of thirty minutes of natural light every morning

Find Reliable Acupuncturist for Insomnia Services Near Me

Acupuncture treatment might not be the first option that would come to mind when thinking of ways to improve your sleep, but it is worth considering. Studies show that this treatment is truly effective. Sleep is among the greatest pleasures of life. Thus, if you have insomnia or any other sleep disorder, it would not hurt to try acupuncture for insomnia therapy to enhance your sleep quality.

If you wish to undergo the treatment in Los Angeles, CA, we at Art of Chinese Healing can help you. We will thoroughly assess your condition and develop the most effective treatment plan that suits your specific needs. Call us at 310-405-1610 to share your condition and for consultation.