Acupuncture can be utilized as a primary or complementary therapy for the treatment of acute and chronic insomnia.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder associated with difficulty falling or staying asleep, and is such a common problem that sleep aids are more widely used than ever. Insomnia can be managed with a combination of acupuncture and lifestyle modifications. Recommended lifestyle modifications include:
- Keep waking time and bedtime consistent
- Avoid long naps during the day
- Eliminate noise and light in the bedroom
- Avoid vigorous exercise in the evening
Insomnia can be brought on in a number of ways, including:
- Stress
- Life changes
- Irregular work schedules
- Medications
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Mental illness such as depression or generalized anxiety disorder
- Medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, chronic pain
- Over-the-counter drugs that contain stimulants
Sleep disorders are conditions that involve any type of difficulty that relates to sleeping.
This includes difficulties falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive total sleep time and abnormal behaviors associated with sleep.
More than 100 different types of sleep disorders have been identified and fall into four main categories:
- Problems with falling and staying asleep
- Problems with staying awake
- Problems with adhering to a regular sleep schedule
- Sleep disruptive behaviors