Insomnia and Stress

Acupuncture can help with regulating sleep cycles from a variety of causes and conditions, including perimenopause and menopause, side effects from chemotherapy, pregnancy, and as a result of aging, among others.

Through a complex series of signals to the brain, acupuncture increases the amount of certain substances such as serotonin, which promote relaxation and sleep.  A study in 2004 found that in patients with anxiety, acupuncture increased nighttime melatonin production and total sleep time. The patients who received acupuncture also fell asleep faster, slept more deeply, and were less stressed.

Another study found that acupuncture improves sleep quality in patients with HIV, among whom sleep disturbance is a common problem. The researchers found that, “Sleep activity and sleep quality significantly improved following 5 weeks of individualized acupuncture…”

If you’re into research, here’s a systematic review of acupuncture and insomnia:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3156618/

(although reading studies may cure your insomnia alone!)