Could Acupuncture Help Me Sleep?

You’ve had trouble sleeping. It’s starting to affect your daily life. Untreated insomnia can lead to poor psychological and physical health. In addition to the inability to focus on tasks, you’re always fatigued. 

It’s hard to get through the day. You may worry during the day about being able to get to sleep or go back to sleep if you wake up. Your worry and fatigue can lead to irritability, anxiety, and/or depression. 

At DH Acupuncture, Dr. Donghwan Lee, licensed and nationally board-certified acupuncturist in New York and licensed acupuncturist in China, treats many patients who have insomnia. Whether your insomnia is acute and transient from a specific issue or a chronic problem, Dr. Lee helps you feel better. 

How can acupuncture help me sleep better?

Western researchers have found that acupuncture can raise the level of gamma amino butyric acid, a neurotransmitter that creates a calming effect, which may improve the quality and duration of sleep. Traditional Chinese Medicine says that the energy flow in your body needs to be balanced for improved sleep. Dr. Lee stimulates certain points on your body that calm the stress response of your nervous system. 

Is acupuncture safe? 

Acupuncture is very safe for most people when administered by a licensed and experienced acupuncturist. Very few complications arise from acupuncture. The FDA requires the use of sterile, single-use only needles. 

Certain considerations must be taken if you have a pacemaker or other implants. If you’re on blood thinners, acupuncture may not be a treatment choice. 

Acupuncture is non-drug treatment. Taking drugs to sleep has several downsides. Prescription or non-prescription sleeping pills may lead to drug addiction. The pills can interact with other medications you take. If you have chronic health conditions, certain medications may be contraindicated, limiting your options. Given these considerations, acupuncture is a low-risk treatment in comparison. 

Research on acupuncture for improved sleep

Acupuncture has been used in China for about 2,500 years. It’s an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and a standard treatment for insomnia in China. 

Meta analyses of 46 randomized trials involving almost 4,000 patients concluded that acupuncture improved patients’ sleep when those having acupuncture were compared to those receiving no treatment. A 2019 analysis of 9 studies including 1,000 individuals found that acupuncture was more effective at helping sleep quality when compared with placebo treatment or medication. Other recent studies support these conclusions as well. 

While the research showing acupuncture is effective for insomnia is mild to modest, and more research needs to be done, many physicians are using acupuncture to help with insomnia and comorbidities such as anxiety and depression. 

Acupuncture results depend on the quality of your practitioner. Don’t select a practitioner who took a weekend course and has received a license. Select a practitioner who has completed a bona fide course of study and who has experience in treating patients for insomnia. 

Call DH Acupuncture today for relief from insomnia and stress. You can also send an online message to us for an appointment at our New York, New York, office. Rest assured of expert treatment given Dr. Lee’s many years of experience and stellar qualifications.