I’ve recently been contacted by a number of people asking if acupuncture can help them with sleep issues. Sleep is problematic for many people. It has been estimated that as many as one in three people in the UK find it difficult to achieve good quality refreshing sleep.
There are many different patterns of poor sleep. Some people find it hard to fall asleep. Some get to sleep quickly but can’t stay asleep. Some are disturbed by vivid dreams. Some are kept awake by pain, or by worry, or by low mood. Sometimes the issue is hormonal imbalance, for example during the menopause.
If you come for treatment, I will ask you many questions to make a thorough diagnosis in order to identify the pattern of what is going on with you. Every person is different. Very often, if the underlying cause of the sleep dysfunction is identified and treated, relaxation and overall wellbeing can be optimised and sleep improved. Acupuncture can stimulate the nervous system to release neurochemical messengers to reduce stress and pain and anxiety.
Of course, environmental factors and sleep routine may also need to be discussed and addressed. All of this is taken into account when building a treatment plan.
I would recommend looking at the insomnia fact sheet on the British Acupuncture Council website for those interested in clinical research into acupuncture treatment for sleep issues. https://acupuncture.org.uk/fact-sheets/insomnia/
If you are finding sleep to be a problem, why not book in for a free consultation with Joe Stevens Acupuncture to discuss it?