Sleep issues are a common complaint for many of my patients. Long term loss of sleep can take its toll on the body, manifesting in low energy, fatigue, stress and anxiety. The most common sleep disorder is insomnia, which is characterised by difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia
Difficulty falling asleep at night Waking frequently during the night Waking too early and can’t get back to sleep Daytime tiredness or drowsiness Irritability, anxiety or depression Difficulty focusing Memory loss
Recent research in acupuncture for insomnia has produced some positive outcomes. In February 2018, a clinical trial study released by researchers at the prestigious Zhejiang Chinese Medical University found acupuncture to be more effective than certain drug types similar to those routinely prescribed for the treatment of insomnia. A separate study conducted by researchers at Yuexiu District Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine found acupuncture more effective than benzodiazepine type medications. Although the sample sizes were relatively small for these controlled clinical trials, both strongly indicate acupuncture as an effective treatment method. The average age of the clinical subjects was around 50 - 53 years of age. Patients in the treatment group underwent a combination of conventional body style acupuncture and ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) to activate important points in the ear area.If you experience difficulty sleeping or regularly struggle with insomnia or any other type of sleep issue, an acupuncture treatment plan can offer you a safe treatment option. Acupuncture can treat many symptoms, with the aim of restoring balance, alleviating pain, stress and anxiety, this leads to enhanced sleep, and improvement in overall well-being.