Sleep is incredibly important for good health and overall well-being. A good night’s sleep offers benefits for your physical and mental health, and being unable to get one can be terribly frustrating.
At Family Acupuncture and Wellness, our expert providers have helped many patients who struggle with insomnia and poor sleep. If you’ve never considered acupuncture to help you sleep better, you may want to take a moment to read about how it can help.
Poor sleep and lack of sleep is a prevalent public health problem. About 30% of adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep, which, for an average person, is seven to nine hours per night.
Lack of proper sleep is associated with several chronic health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, and obesity, among others. In addition, sleepiness is connected to poor performance, auto accidents, and numerous other negative outcomes.
You may be wondering how acupuncture could possibly help you sleep better. After all, wouldn’t having needles poked all over keep you awake?
First, the needles used in acupuncture are very fine. They are so thin and small, you may not even feel them. Most people report that acupuncture is painless and even relaxing.
Second, multiple studies have shown that acupuncture helps people sleep better. In fact, enough research has been published that scientists have been able to conduct what’s called a “systematic review” — they looked at all of the research published within a particular time range and examined the results of all of those studies together. Notably, the researchers involved in the systematic review found that acupuncture can be a beneficial treatment for insomnia.
There are several theories about exactly how acupuncture helps you sleep. One is that it improves your blood flow, and another is that it stimulates your brain to release natural opioids that help you relax and sleep.
One of the most important results of the studies into acupuncture as a treatment for insomnia is the fact it showed there are very few adverse events associated with acupuncture. It’s considered a safe treatment, and you’re extremely unlikely to experience side effects of any kind.
If you’ve struggled with sleep for a long time, you’re probably frustrated. You may have problems concentrating, and even in your relationships. Acupuncture is a safe, often very effective approach to dealing with insomnia. You have nothing to lose by trying it, but may well gain something you’ve wanted for a long time: a good night’s sleep and all the benefits that accompany it.
If you’d like to learn more, book an appointment at Family Acupuncture and Wellness. New patients can request an appointment using our online tools, or you’re welcome to call us at 603-556-8908 and we’ll get you on our schedule!
