If you have ever laid awake for hours on end, watching the digital clock slowly creep along through the hours, you know how a sleepless night, not to mention a series of sleepless nights, can wreak havoc on your day. It can become a maddening cycle and make even the most simple daytime tasks feel impossible. Studies show that insomnia affects 1 in 3 people and most people will experience episodes at any given point in their lives. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from insomnia. It may present with trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or both. The causes for insomnia are so common: anxiety, worry, depression, certain medications, drugs, chronic pain, stress to name just a few. In my practice I commonly see patients who struggle with it and are thrilled to find how beneficial acupuncture is for promoting restful sleep. Chinese herbs are also one of my favorite ways to treat sleep disorders.
Often when people seek help for insomnia through western medicine prescription medication is prescribed. Over time though, this ‘quick-fix solution’ can end up causing more drowsiness and fatigue as well as a host of other side effects. This not only compounds the issue but does not get to the root of the problem. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work because they get to the root of the problem, calming the mind and promoting sleep without any side effects at all.
Traditional Chinese medicine views insomnia as an imbalance or disharmony in the zang organs, or shen disturbance. This is often caused by stagnation of qi and blood due to stress and poor diet, though it may also be affected by an imbalance in the heart, liver, lung, or spleen (the zang organs). According to Chinese medicine theory, there are many reasons why someone may be suffering from insomnia, just as there is no one size fits all diagnosis for every patient. Acupuncture helps to calm the parasympathetic nervous system; it lowers stress and calms the mind. By working to bring the body back into balance your acupuncturist will choose points based on the underlying diagnosis or root of the problem in order to treat the insomnia.
If you are experiencing symptoms of insomnia I encourage you to incorporate some nighttime rituals that promote restful sleep. First, put down the phone or tablet at least an hour before bed; the screen light and the rapid action of any videos stimulate your brain. Avoid alcohol which is known to cause difficulty in a good night’s sleep. Try diffusing essential oils like lavender, or spritzing lavender on your pillow, taking bath, or meditation before heading to bed. Most importantly, don’t lose hope. Help can be found. Here’s to a better night’s sleep!