You probably already know that acupuncture can provide you with relief for a wide range of disorders or conditions, but did you know that it can also help you sleep? Here are some ways that acupuncture can help relieve insomnia.

Acupuncture Decreases Anxiety

If you’re anxious, you’ll likely have a difficult time falling asleep. If you have severe anxiety, it may make the problem even worse. Acupuncture can help decrease your overall levels of anxiety, promoting deep relaxation. This can make it easier for you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep.

Melatonin Production Increases

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in your body that helps you fall asleep. It is even sold in supplement form over the counter as a sleep aid that can be taken daily. Acupuncture can increase your body’s natural melatonin production, which can improve sleep quality. If you currently take an over the counter melatonin supplement, you may continue, decrease, or discontinue your dosage depending on how the acupuncture works to make you feel.

Chronic Pain Relief

Chronic pain can be terrible for sleep, as it can make you feel incredibly uncomfortable all night. With chronic pain, it’s possible that no amount of tossing and turning will make it more comfortable. It can impact your mood, how you experience things, and your overall health. And a lack of sleep can make chronic pain even worse. In this way, chronic pain and insomnia work in a cycle, where it seems that there isn’t a cure.

Acupuncture is well known for helping with chronic pain, though fewer people knowingly equate pain relief with improved sleep quality. This is one way that acupuncture can help both conditions. Depending on where your pain is located, acupuncture can be personalized to address these pain points.

Fall Asleep Faster

Acupuncture can help you fall asleep faster from a combination of pressure points, release of melatonin, and added relaxation. However, there’s still much about how acupuncture relieves insomnia that remains unknown. It is possible that a placebo effect plays something of a role. People tend to feel more relaxed and well when they put their health first, and addressing your insomnia with relaxing acupuncture can give you a strong sense of peace.

Acupuncture Is Not a One Time Fix

You should know that acupuncture is not a one time fix. You won’t go in for one session to treat your insomnia, only to find immediate and permanent relief. For most clients, it will take at least six sessions of acupuncture before they are able to find real relief.

Acupuncture helps with insomnia in a variety of ways. It can help treat the underlying cause, reduce pain, and help you relax. But that’s not all that it does. Call the Thumos Health Center at (310) 438-1215 to schedule an appointment and discuss how acupuncture can fit into your integrated health care.