Acupuncture Fall Asleep Easy

At asleep easy we know that being able to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night is difficult for many people. When insomnia becomes a health problem many seek medical advice and are prescribed sleeping pills such as Ambien. While sleeping medication can be effective, they also have undesirable side effects and addictive properties. Did you know that chronic insomnia can be treated with acupuncture? Acupuncture has no side effects, is non-dependent and a natural cure to fall asleep easy. Studies also report that patients who receive acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) and acupressure experience improvement with their insomnia symptoms, including fatigue, sleep quality and depression.

TEAS is when acupuncture needles are replaced by electrodes that were used to send small electrical pulses to specific acupuncture points on the skin. Besides TEAS there are other forms of acupuncture that have been developed, including electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, acupressure and auricular therapy. Electroacupuncture is when acupuncture needles are attached to a device that generates continuous electrical impulses, generating a small electric current that flows between pairs of needles. Laser acupuncture uses a laser beam to stimulate acupoints instead of fine needles. Acupressure is a technique that involves firm manual pressure on the acupoints. Auricular therapy employs acupuncture needles, seeds or magnetic peals to stimulate acupoints.

Oriental scientist correlate insomnia to the heart with both heart disease and heart failure, other organ symptoms and syndromes may be involved, with herbal supplements and acupuncture the body is brought back into balance. Each person’s medical or mental cause for insomnia is different and your health care professional needs to diagnosis and treat you according, but if you are experiencing stress related insomnia that causes a nerve induced problem such as restless leg syndrome, acupuncture may be recommended. Stress weakens the liver functions which in turn affects the health of your nerves. Acupuncture has a calming effect on the nervous system by clearing obstructions in the muscle and nerve channels allowing the flow of oxygen enriched energy to relax the system. Benefits of acupuncture include deeper breathing, improved digestion, better sleep, decreased pain and a general sense of well being. A insomnia remedy may consist of ten initial treatments followed-up by two to three treatments per week. After a review of its effectiveness, treatments may be reduced to once per week.

In order to successfully resolve your insomnia you need to address all contributing factors. Acupuncture and herbal supplements do this by treating the entire body while focusing on bringing it into balance. Other techniques such as yoga, meditation, biofeedback and progressive relaxation can be included in your relaxation regimen as well as establishing a regular bedtime routine. Acupuncture has also proven successful for treating pain associated with arthritis and other physical conditions.

Your physician may propose a diet that is tailored to improve liver and kidney function. Excess amounts of protein, caffeine and quick energy foods weigh on the liver, kidneys and intestines. Foods good for your mind-body energy reserves are whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Oriental medical practitioners recommend herbal medications along with a healthy diet, herbs for insomnia include; longan fruit, golden thread, sour jujube seed, fossil bone or mimosa bark.

Dried Longan is a sweet, succulent Chinese fruit, not dissimilar to a raisin. People with deficiency of the blood, causing symptoms such as insomnia, palpitations, forgetfulness and dizziness can eat it as a fruit. It strengthens the blood and calms the mind. It can also be added to soups and desserts.

What exactly is acupuncture? It is the Oriental treatment where needles are inserted into meridians on the body. The principle behind acupuncture is to adjust the flow of the Qi, or energy, in these meridians which can control aspects of your body’s functions. Sleep requires proper transition of Yang and Yin energy as it changes from day to night and the proper function of your blood to house your Spirit. Yang energy circulates through the Yang areas of your body during the day to keep you active and at night the Yang energy turns to the Yin areas deep in your lower parts of your body. If Yang energy stays in the Yang areas of your brain and eyes these areas will continue to be energized and prevent you from falling asleep. Your blood is a residence of the Spirit, or Shen and if blood cannot support the Shen at night it wonders upward into your mind causing insomnia. Blood is produced by the spleen and stored in the liver and if any of these organs are imbalanced the quality of the blood will become weak and unable to house the Shen.

There are five types of insomnia that is treated by acupuncture. Knowing what type of insomnia you are experiencing can help the Acupuncturist to provide the best possible treatment. The five types are; difficulty falling asleep, waking often during the night, excessive dreaming or nightmares, wake up too early and can’t sleep at all. This is how each type is associated to Oriental theory:

I have difficultly falling asleep: The Yang Qi cannot enter the Yin areas of the body leading to insomnia.

I wake up often during the night: Internal heat is stuck in the body causing insomnia.

I wake up early and can’t go back to sleep: Poor lifestyle may have damaged your Kidney Yin energy. Heat from Kidney Deficiency is rising up causing insomnia.

I have excessive dreaming during sleep: The brain doesn’t quiet down and it is difficult to relax due to Liver deficiency Heat or Heart Fire causing insomnia.

I can’t sleep at all: Not enough Blood due to either Spleen or Liver deficiency causing insomnia.

After you receive an acupuncture treatment your nervous system begins to calm down. The acupuncture needles are doing deep work by unraveling your subconscious stresses, balancing your Qi, and releasing the causes of your insomnia. Many people even fall asleep on the treatment table. Remember you may feel great after the first night of rest, however later you insomnia symptoms may occur which indicates that you need further treatments. You also need to adjust your lifestyle to learn how to fall asleep really fast by quieting the mind, exercise in the morning or soaking your feet in water at night which will bring your Yang down to the Yin areas.

To sleep easier and find balance within yourself is a reason to seek acupuncture. Patients also come to an acupuncturist because they are disconnected from other emotional issues such as anxiety or mild depression. As stresses take their toll, our minds can no longer relax and our sleep becomes disturbed causing insomnia.

Insomnia should not dictate when or for how long you sleep. Acupuncture can lead you back to a place of balance and calm, giving you the power to lay insomnia to rest. If you are experiencing insomnia, don’t face another sleepless night. Talk to your doctor about how acupuncture can help you. The content in Acupuncture Fall Asleep Easy is for information purposes only, intended to raise the awareness of different solutions for sleep disorders and should not be considered medical advice. For medical diagnosis and treatment, please see your qualified health-care professional.