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Treatment
of Insomnia with Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
During
normal sleep, our brains sort out the thoughts and information
taken in throughout the day, growth hormone is released
to help heal and repair our tissues, our nervous and
immune systems have time to regenerate and restore.
To reap the benefits of sleep, it is generally believed
that most adults need about 7 to 8 hours per night,
older adults need a little less and children and adolescents
need more.
Unfortunately,
about one third of adults do not or cannot get the sleep
their bodies need to stay healthy. Anyone who has ever
missed one or more night's sleep knows firsthand the
effects of sleep deprivation. Studies have shown that
memory, concentration, mood, the ability to avoid accidents
and the ability to heal can all be impaired by the lack
of restful sleep.
The
causes of insomnia are too numerous and complex to talk
about all of them here, but I can share the kinds of
insomnia I see in my clinic and how I use acupuncture
and Chinese herbs to promote and restore healthy sleep.
The
patients I see in my clinic with insomnia tend to experience
high levels of stress and anxiety and/or physical pain
and discomfort that prevent them from easily falling
and staying asleep. The two exceptions to this rule
are my patients with fibromyalgia, for whom insomnia
is just one of a ong list of associated disorders, and
menopause in which women awake throughout the night
with hot flashes or night sweats.
As
an acupuncturist, the inability to sleep tells me that
your body, mind and spirit are out of balance. When
the imbalance is created by stress, I use acupuncture
points and herbal formulas to trigger your body's relaxation
response. When the imbalance is created by chronic pain,
I use points and techniques to reduce inflammation and
pain levels. When the imbalance is part of a more complex
pattern like fibromyalgia or menopause, I let your symptoms,
the way your tongue looks and the way your pulse feels
guide me to choose the points and herbs that will work
best for you.
Acupuncture
is uniquely suited to treating insomnia because it is
so relaxing and sedating. If you've never had acupuncture,
you may find it hard to believe, but It is not unusual
for patients to fall asleep while the needles are in
place. Those who don't fall asleep report feeling heavy,
sleepy and very relaxed during treatment.
Are
you ready to find out how acupuncture and Chinese herbs
can help you get back to sleep? We offer a limited number
of free 30-minute phone consultations for people who
are serious about improving their sleep. Only a few
spots are available, so reserve yours now by calling
603-924-6624 or emailing consult@nhacupuncture.com.
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