Say Goodbye to Insomnia for Good!

Does it take a long time for you to fall asleep? Do you feel like you're not getting enough sleep? Do you wake up way earlier than you should? If you answered yes to all or at least one of these questions, you might be experiencing insomnia. Insomnia is not only about having difficulty falling asleep, it can also be having short bouts of sleep throughout the night, waking up too early, waking up feeling unrested almost the whole day, or having all of those symptoms at the same time.

Insomnia is generally categorized between primary or co-morbid insomnia. Primary insomnia is a standalone sleeping disorder, unlike co-morbid insomnia wherein insomnia occurs with another medical or psychiatric condition. Most cases of insomnia fall in the co-morbid category. 

A few sleepless nights may be bearable for some but if it's already interfering with your productivity, mood, and overall health, then maybe it's time to seek help.

In traditional Chinese medicine, such disorders are commonly attributed to the imbalance between internal and external factors of the body and the mind. A thorough assessment is vital in creating a plan to treat your insomnia. Acupuncture is often the treatment of choice for insomnia in TCM. Stimulation of specific acupuncture points realigns the qi and helps it find a balance that causes relaxation of both the body and the mind. From the standpoint of modern science, acupuncture can trigger neurotransmitters that signal the brain and the body to feel eased and at rest. Studies have shown that acupuncture can increase levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which play a key role in regulating mood and promoting feelings of well-being. Acupuncture can also help reduce chronic pain that may cause insomnia. The needles on specific areas stimulate the release of endorphins, which are the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals. This can help alleviate pain and improve overall sleep quality. Opting for acupuncture to treat insomnia is effective and has little to no side effects, unlike most sleeping medications, which may cause substance dependency. 

Acupuncture is commonly paired with herbal medications when dealing with insomnia. Usually, an herbal concoction is given in tea form and is prescribed to be taken before going to bed. Chamomile tea also has calming effects and can help you fall asleep.

Lifestyle modification is crucial to having a good night's sleep. Heavy food intake and drinking caffeine or alcohol before sleep is not a good habit. Caffeine is a stimulant and will keep you up at night if you drink it a few hours before bedtime. Eating a heavy meal can make you feel sick which might cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. Alcohol may make you sleepy but disrupts sleep quality by making you sleep lighter which can cause you to wake up easily. An hour to 30 minutes before bedtime, avoid using your gadgets such as your phone, tablet, and laptop. Watching the television is also not going to help you fall asleep so it's best to avoid that as well. These devices emit blue light which disrupts the body's natural sleep-wake cycle. Lastly, consistency is the key. Be consistent in where you are sleeping as well as what time you should go to bed. This is one of the most overlooked things for those with insomnia. 

Book an appointment with Dr. Ting Wu of NYC Acupuncture + Wellness for a tailored treatment plan to get rid of your insomnia.