Acupuncture for Sleep Support
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help regulate circadian rhythm and support rest.
It sounds counterintuitive. Needles + Body = Sleep. But acupuncture has long been recognized as a pathway to encourage more restfulness. Whether you struggle with insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, restlessness, or morning grogginess, most of us have experienced some form of sleep complaint in our lives.
RECENT RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT ACUPUNCTURE IS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF REGULATING SLEEP BY:
STIMULATING THE PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (OUR POWER DOWN BUTTON)
We’ve all heard of “Fight or Flight,” but what about “Rest and Digestion?” This more blissed-out state is our oft-neglected Parasympathetic Nervous System. It’s our internal Power Down regulatory system that in my humble opinion is totally underrated.
Needling certain acupuncture points on the body have shown to be effective in activating regions of the brain that inhibit Sympathetic and promote Parasympathetic response, while balancing Cortisol levels. Many times referred to as our “stress hormone,” a little dose of Cortisol is normal and healthy in stressful situations. But since our nervous systems are typically in hyperdrive, this can cause over-stimulation and imbalance.
Acupuncture works to calm the body, ease the mind and help to reduce systemic cortisol, thus creating relaxation, calm, and that “zen state” so often reported post-treatment. It’s also partially why Acupuncture is so beneficial in the treatment of chronic pain.
HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO PROMOTE RESTFULNESS
Along with Acupuncture, restfulness can be supported through a variety of herbal formularies and supplements. The most well-known being Magnesium — there are many different forms and variations of this supplement, so speak with your practitioner to see which would be the best fit for you.
Chinese Herbal formularies also vary depending on what’s most appropriate for you, but most often they are targeted at course correcting larger internal imbalances, rather than simply putting a band-aid on symptoms. Ideally a course of herbal treatment will be effective in treating both cause and effect.
ACUPUNCTURE TO SUPPORT HEALTHY SLEEP CYCLES
Along with combating the overall effects of Stress in our lives, Acupuncture is now being examined clinically for its beneficial effects in managing our circadian rhythm.
From the perspective of Chinese Medicine, we see the body as a whole system. Much like the New York City subway, when one thing gets backed up, everything else suffers the consequences.
Issues with sleep can stem from any number of things from both an Eastern and Western perspective. Depending on your individual situation, a Chinese Medicine practitioner may see your condition as being related to the Heart or Liver organ, or more specifically your levels of Blood, Yin and/or Heat in the body. Deficiencies and/or excesses of any of these can contribute to troubled sleeping patterns. And acupuncture needles are incredible small and gentle. Once you’re familiar with the process, you may begin referring to your Acupuncture treatments as a beloved “needle nap.”
At my offices in NoHo and Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I constantly working with folks that are struggling with their sleep patterns. And you heard it here first: sleeping problems aren’t “normal,” and you too can improve your rest.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or to book an appointment, I’m always happy to be in touch.
