Recent studies are looking at Acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia.
One study (link below) was a double-dummy, single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The aim was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in patients with primary insomnia.
The results of the trial showed that all treatments were effective compared with the pretreatment baseline. Improvements in sleep quality, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and daytime functioning achieved in the verum group were well maintained to follow-up, whereas the effect of sham acupuncture and estazolam was not significant when the intervention ended.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep. The condition can be short-term (acute) or can last a long time (chronic). It may also come and go. Acute insomnia lasts from 1 night to a few weeks. Insomnia is chronic when it happens at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more.
Additional benefits:
Pain
Because of the way acupuncture affects certain chemicals within the body, it is also a proven complementary treatment for pain. Reduced pain can allow the body to relax faster and sleep better.
In acupuncture, the needles enhance chemicals, such as dynorphins, endorphins, and encephalins. Acupuncture can also release corticosteroids, which are stress hormones. Each of these chemicals plays a role in pain. Thus, tweaking their levels within the body can reduce pain.
Anxiety:
There have been several studies done about the effects of acupuncture on anxiety. These studies have focused mostly on generalized anxiety disorder and suggest that acupuncture is helpful in treating general anxiety.
Acupuncture, an ancient practice that involves inserting needles into pressure points on your body, is becoming a popular alternative treatment for anxiety. There’s some scientific evidence that acupuncture helps with certain symptoms of anxiety. However, researchers are still trying to determine the effect of acupuncture on specific types of anxiety, such as panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If you or someone you know is suffering from insomnia, call us today for an appt at 520-881-0827 or request an appointment online.