Sleep and Insomnia

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep. It’s a common sleep disorder.

Insomnia is very common. More than three million cases are recorded every year in the US. It’s usually self-diagnosed and people seek medical attention in order to improve sleeping habits. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are very effective in treating insomnia and resolving the underlying causes so that you can sleep and stay asleep.

Insomnia is often caused by poor sleeping habits, an overactive mind, lack of exercise, chronic illness, or the side effects of medication. Poor sleeping habits may include excessive screen time, eating late at night, or having an irregular bedtime schedule.

No, COVID-19 does not cause insomnia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not list insomnia as a common COVID-19 symptom. New cases of insomnia are a by-product of pandemic-related stress.

Yes, stress can cause insomnia. Stressful pinnacle events and shorter periods of time can cause temporary insomnia. Major or long-lasting stress can lead to chronic insomnia.

Yes, anxiety can cause insomnia. A tendency of worrying or ruminating over a concern that causes you to wake up and not fall back to sleep is a classic example of how anxiety causes insomnia.

No, depression does not cause insomnia. While intrinsically linked, insomnia is more likely to cause depression. If you experience insomnia, you are ten times more likely to experience depression. Seventy-five percent of people diagnosed with depression have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

Understanding the relationship between insomnia and depression can help you notice the signs, get help, and respond to break the cycle.

Your goal is to remember what it feels like to wake up well rested like a baby – ready to greet the day with joie de vivre.

The most important symptoms of insomnia are not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep and not feel well rested. Insomnia symptoms may include:

• Not falling asleep at night
• Waking up in the middle of the night
• Waking up several hours before the sun rises
• Not feeling well-rested upon waking up
• Sensations of tiredness, heaviness, sleepiness during the day
• Irritable
• Inability to concentrate or focus, feeling slow
• Inability to recall or remember
• Feeling like the walking dead, a zombie
• Frequent errors and accidents like tripping, dropping or falling… where’s my keys? Where’s my coffee?
• Worries related to financial or relationship heartache

Acupuncture and herbal medicine is extremely effective for helping you fall asleep and stay asleep naturally without the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment today.

You know you have insomnia if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Difficulty waking up in the morning
• Erratic sleep patterns in the past two weeks… it’s been all over the place!
• Your lack of sleep is noticeable to your partner, family, friends, or coworkers
• You’re concerned that you are not getting enough sleep
• Your quality of life is affected related to mood, memory, and concentration

Yes, sometimes you can be genetically predisposed to insomnia. There are certain genes that may increase your risk. Researchers estimate that 31-58% of heredity is likely linked to you experiencing insomnia.

Three sleep elements that your genes influence:

1. Your likelihood to experience insomnia or not
2. How much sleep you need
3. Your predisposition toward being a night owl or an early bird

Whether or not insomnia runs in your family, it does not solve how to sleep better. A consistent sleep routine, acupuncture, and herbal medicine can fix that.

No, insomnia is not a reliable sign of early pregnancy. Despite the fact that most women experience difficulty sleeping during pregnancy, it’s not a primary indicator of being pregnant. Insomnia is more likely to occur in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy when it’s harder to get comfortable to fall asleep.

If you’re pregnant and having trouble sleeping, try acupuncture and herbal medicine. They’re natural, safe, and effective treatments that will help you sleep longer and more deeply.

There are a number of basic lifestyle routines that can improve your quality of sleep.

7 Tips for Better Sleep Every Day

1. Unwind and create a calm bedtime routine
2. Avoid sleep-disrupting behaviors such as stimulants and electronic devices two hours before bedtime
3. Avoid doing work in the middle of the night
4. Make your bedroom a restful room
5. Break a sweat – Exercise six days a week for 45 minutes each day
6. Wake up to morning sunshine to positively strengthen your circadian rhythm

Try acupuncture and herbal medicine, which are effective, non-addictive, and natural.

Yes, acupuncture can stop insomnia and get you back on track with better sleep.

Acupuncture point locations may include the ear (auricular acupuncture) and additional acupuncture points on the head, back, abdomen, arms, or legs. The benefits of acupuncture include these simultaneous results:

• Creates a deep relaxation state that induces sleep
• Reduces the sensation of anxiety and stress
• Sleep disruptions lessen
• Stimulates melatonin production naturally
• Relieves chronic pain

Most people don’t care how acupuncture helps stop insomnia, they just want to sleep and will try acupuncture as a last resort. Then they’re often impressed with how relaxed they feel and report how much better they sleep after treatment.

If you really want to know how acupuncture stops insomnia, it helps:

• Calm and settle the mind
• Restores and improves fluid physiology
• Improves the parasympathetic nervous system to induce relaxation and reduce stress
• Reduces pain in frequency and intensity

Most people don’t want to change their habits and get discouraged when they get no results. The more willing you are to change, the more likely you are to experience success and get sleep.

Most of our conversations relate to re-establishing regular sleeping, eating, and exercise habits.

In order to treat insomnia, you need 6-12 acupuncture treatments in the first six to twelve weeks. In combination with acupuncture, herbal medicine is also recommended for the first three months for a cumulative effect.

Between these two disciplines and your commitment to improving your sleeping habits, rapid growth can happen.

If you’re currently taking meds for insomnia, it is safe to take herbal medicine and receive acupuncture at the same time.

Yes, Chinese herbs work for insomnia and help provide a natural way to address troubled sleep.  Many people are seeking out a non-drug option to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders without the side effects. Chinese herbs are often used in conjunction with acupuncture treatments to resolve insomnia and calm the heart. If you are currently taking meds for insomnia, it is safe to take herbal medicine at the same time. Nevertheless, it’s important to consult a licensed acupuncturist who has been trained in Chinese herbology. Do not self-diagnose.

Here is a peer-reviewed journal article listed in the National Library of Medicine on the “Treatment of Insomnia with Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine.”

Seldom is a Chinese herb taken individually like a European herb (i.e., lavender). Rather it is combined with additional Chinese herbs to make a formula. For instance, suan zao ren (jujube seed) is the most important Chinese herb and is the primary ingredient in a classic Chinese herbal formula to address insomnia. It calms and nourishes the heart, and reduces irritability. It has a special relationship between the liver and the heart.

If you suffer from the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, consult a licensed acupuncturist who has trained in Chinese herbology. Do not self-diagnose and take google searches for face value. It is important to consult a medical acupuncture practitioner before self-administering Chinese herbs.

Yes, massage can help you sleep and treat insomnia. In tuina massage (twee-nah) massage, acupuncture points are massaged to relax the mind and calm the nervous system. Tuina massage in combination with acupuncture and herbal medicine, is proven to be very effective to help you sleep.

By alleviating stress and tension, your sleep will improve. If you are having trouble sleeping because you’re unable to get comfortable, tuina massage and acupuncture are effective ways to manage pain. This may include headaches, neck and back pain, and pain after surgery. If you’re experiencing insomnia due to menopause, cancer, GERD, or other medical conditions, tuina massage and acupuncture can help. Make an appointment today.

Tuina massage helps you sleep because stretching and smoothing bound-up muscles increase circulation and sends a signal to your brain to relax. With regular treatment, tuina massage is one modality of Chinese medicine that can be used to break the cycle of hyper-alertness and encourage deep sleep.