Today, millions of Americans struggle with sleep issues or insomnia. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders. Between 10 to 15 percent of the population suffers from chronic insomnia and 25 to 35 percent have occasional insomnia. So, how do you treat this disorder? Today, Arise Acupuncture explains how acupuncture services can treat the symptoms of insomnia, offering a safe alternative to medication.
What Are the Symptoms of Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder which causes you to have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep. While it is normal to occasionally experience issues falling asleep, if you find yourself unable to fall asleep, incapable of falling asleep without waking up, or waking up at a very early hour, you could have insomnia. Symptoms can last for a couple days, a few months, or even longer. Here are the common symptoms of insomnia:
· Waking up in the middle of the night
· Waking up too early
· Difficulty falling asleep
· Tiredness, fatigue, and/or exhaustion
· Difficulty paying attention or remembering things
· Irritability
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Headaches
Difficulty falling asleep is defined by the United States National Library of Medicine as experiencing sleep latency, or the time it takes a person to fall asleep, for over 30 minutes or sleep efficiency of less than 85 percent.
How Does Acupuncture Treat Insomnia?
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine aim to get to the root cause of insomnia. By identifying the underlying cause of insomnia, the goal is to find the key to treating the patient. As stress and anxiety are often the most common reasons people suffer from insomnia, acupuncture is an effective treatment to help with these issues. Acupuncture helps you relax, decreases stress, and increases the release of natural melatonin in the body to improve sleep.
Often chronic pain can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep as well. Acupuncture helps reduce pain, so you can sleep better. Many of our patients at Arise Acupuncture experience a sense of calm after a treatment session that helps them sleep better for several days.
Auricular (ear) acupuncture is also an effective treatment for addressing insomnia. It is typically used to treat pain and anxiety, which deter the body’s ability to sleep.
The Benefits of Acupuncture for Sleep
Acupuncture provides patients with the following sleep benefits:
· Helps quiet your mind
· Alleviates pain
· Increases relaxation
· Decreases stress
· Increases melatonin secretion
· Improves your sleep quality and duration
· Brings the body to balance
· Reduces anxiety
How Long Does It Take for Acupuncture to Help with Insomnia?
As an acupuncture treatment will affect every patient differently, it is recommended to speak to your acupuncturist to determine how many treatments would be best for you. The results of acupuncture are cumulative, so you might need to come in more frequently in the beginning to see results.
Do you have insomnia or experience trouble going to sleep? Get in touch with us online today or by calling 619-356-1225 to schedule an acupuncture session.