Sleep is as vital to our health as food and water, yet millions worldwide struggle every night with insomnia. Primary insomnia, a chronic condition causing difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, can profoundly affect a person’s quality of life, leading to daytime fatigue, mood disturbances, and decreased productivity.
I have long used acupuncture to help people sleep better and recent research is helping to show how this works in the body.
In order to look at how acupuncture works to help you sleep better, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies which scan patients’ brains while getting acupuncture.
In this blog post I will explain highlights from a recent analysis of these studies that reveals how acupuncture approaches insomnia and share clinical experiences to help you get a better night’s sleep.
Table of Contents
Acupuncture: A Natural Solution for Insomnia
Acupuncture works by resetting the body’s natural functions back into balance. Illness is caused by imbalances in the body’s energy, known as Qi (pronounced “chee”). By correcting these imbalances, the body can heal itself.
Qi travels through the body like water flowing through a winding river, connecting the body’s surface to internal organs and muscles. This interconnectedness enables acupuncture to treat both internal and physical ailments effectively.
In the case of insomnia, the underlying imbalance often lies in too little Qi or the Qi is not circulating correctly. Another factor is “heat” which may manifest as sweaty hands, a red complexion, and a red tongue. On the other hand, a pale complexion and tongue indicate a deficiency in blood and Qi.
Acupuncture works by restoring balance to the Qi, strengthening the Qi and invigorating circulation.
Acupuncture’s effect on the brain to help insomnia
FMRI, a type of brain scan, has been used to explore how acupuncture works to improve insomnia.
The research has revealed significant changes in brain activity associated with acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture affects the Default Mode Network (DMN), a critical brain network associated with mind-wandering and is associated with a wakeful rest, self-referential thoughts, and the processing of internal stimuli. Typically, disruptions in this network are linked with insomnia, where sufferers find it hard to disengage from persistent thoughts at rest, complicating the process of falling asleep.
Acupuncture was also found to enhance frontal lobe activity.
These findings underscore acupuncture’s potential as a non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia by modulating brain functions in a way that promotes relaxation and sleep readiness. For many, this could mean a reduction in the use of sleep medications and their associated side effects, offering a more natural and holistic approach to managing sleep disturbances.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
The acupuncture is tailored to your individual needs, addressing both the root cause and symptoms of your sleep issues. The treatment course starts with an initial consultation and then a series of sessions designed to restore balance to your body’s Qi and promote better sleep.
Initial Consultation:
In your first session, we will discuss your medical history including your sleep patterns, health history, lifestyle, and emotional well-being as well as a physical examination, including looking at your tongue and feeling your pulse. This provides the information to create a specific diagnosis of the imbalance underlying your condition and target it specifically with acupuncture.
Follow Up Treatment Sessions:
Acupuncture treatments are typically scheduled once or twice a week, depending on the severity of your insomnia and any accompanying health concerns. Each session lasts around 60 minutes. For insomnia, points related to the heart, liver, and kidney meridians are often targeted to calm the mind, alleviate stress, and balance the body’s energy.
Many patients find the treatment to be deeply relaxing, and it’s not uncommon to fall asleep during the session itself. Over time, you’ll likely notice improvements not just in your sleep, but also in other aspects of your health, such as mood, digestion, and energy levels.
A typical treatment course for insomnia may last anywhere from 6 to 12 sessions, depending on how your body responds to the acupuncture. Some people begin to experience improved sleep after just a few sessions, while others may take a bit longer. For chronic or severe insomnia, ongoing maintenance treatments once a month may be recommended to ensure lasting results and prevent sleep disruptions from returning.
Complementary Lifestyle Adjustments:
Alongside acupuncture, you may be advised to make certain lifestyle adjustments to support better sleep. This could include dietary changes, stress management techniques, or herbal supplements.
Acupuncture offers a gentle, non-invasive approach to improving sleep, working with your body’s natural healing processes to restore balance and promote long-term well-being.
Case Study: Treating Insomnia with Acupuncture
Let’s explore a real-life example from my clinic of how acupuncture can be used to successfully treat insomnia.
Case Overview: A 45-year-old female patient came in with chronic insomnia that had persisted for over two years developing after a stressful event. She reported difficulty falling asleep, waking up multiple times during the night, and experiencing restless sleep when she did manage to sleep. Along with insomnia, she experienced frequent headaches and tension in her shoulders and neck. This developed although she had a good diet and regular exercise. However she was also under a high amount of stress and had poor energy levels.
Upon examination, her pulse was wiry and her tongue was pale with a thin white coat, suggesting Qi stagnation and deficiency.
Treatment Plan: The treatment strategy was designed to calm the mind and move the Qi stagnation.
Key Acupuncture Points for Insomnia
Yin Tang: This point, located between the eyebrows, is known for its calming and grounding effects. It helps alleviate anxiety, stress, and restlessness, promoting a sense of calm, which is vital for treating insomnia. For this patient, Yin Tang was chosen to ease her mental tension and reduce anxiety, which were key contributors to her sleep disturbances.
Shen Men (HT 7): Shen Men, located on the wrist crease near the heart meridian, is a powerful point for calming the spirit (Shen) and treating insomnia. In Chinese medicine, the heart is closely connected to emotional health and sleep quality. By stimulating Shen Men, the treatment aimed to calm her mind and address the restlessness that disrupted her sleep.
Si Shen Cong (Extra 4): Si Shen Cong consists of four points located around the vertex of the head. These points are used to calm the mind and clear the head, making them effective for treating insomnia, headaches, and mental agitation. This patient frequently experienced tension headaches, and Si Shen Cong was selected to address both her sleep issues and headaches.
LI 4 (Hegu): Located on the hand between the thumb and index finger, LI 4 is a point that promotes the movement of Qi and blood throughout the body. It is commonly used to relieve pain and tension, and in this case, it was chosen to ease the patient’s headaches and neck tension, which contributed to her overall stress and sleep disruptions.
Liv 3 (Taichong): Liv 3 is found on the foot, between the first and second toes. It is a major point for moving liver Qi, making it an essential point for people suffering from stress, anxiety, and Qi stagnation. This point was chosen to smooth the liver Qi, reducing the emotional stress that was contributing to the patient’s insomnia.
Treatment Course: The patient was treated twice a week for six weeks.
Outcome: After four sessions, the patient reported that she was able to fall asleep more quickly and woke up fewer times during the night. By the end of the six-week treatment course, her sleep had significantly improved, with fewer interruptions, and she woke up feeling more refreshed. In addition, her headaches and neck tension had reduced considerably, and her overall anxiety levels had decreased.
Maintenance and Follow-Up: To maintain her results, the patient continued with weekly acupuncture sessions for 6 weeks then reducing to once a month maintenance which focused on stress reduction.
Sleep Better, Get Acupuncture
In an era where the overuse of pharmacological treatments and their side effects increasingly concern both healthcare providers and patients, acupuncture offers a natural treatment for sleep problems.
I find that acupuncture helps people sleep better, even if insomnia isn’t their primary concern. Whether you’re seeking treatment for back pain, headaches, or digestive issues, acupuncture can enhance your sleep quality.
The functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies provide support for what we see in the clinic everyday. In addition to the positive clinical experience of so many patients, we see how acupuncture affects specific brain regions to help you sleep better.
Please call or text us at 212.319.5757 or you can make an appointment online.
References:
Zang S, Chen Y, Chen H, Shi H, Zhou L. Effects of acupuncture on the brain in primary insomnia: a coordinate-based meta-analysis of fMRI studies. Front Neurol. 2023;14:1180393. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1180393.
