How do we use acupuncture for insomnia?
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Finding Balance
In Chinese medicine we have Yin Yang theory. Each day of our life has day and night, so there should be an expansion, activity and engagement with the world, that is balanced with a returning to root, resting and recharging the self. When there is insomnia, our mind and body is stuck in too much of the expansion and activity phase, and we are having difficulty initiating and/or maintaining the returning and recharging phase. It’s like you’re trying to plug in your phone to recharge but you’re having trouble actually plugging the cable into the socket or the cable is not securely plugged in so it keeps coming off charge.
Your acupuncturist’s job is to figure out how your recharging ability is being compromised and help you restore a better rhythm between rest and activity. For each person this may be different. For some, there may be stress factors that need to be considered. Others may have an internal imbalance where their mind-body is keeping them awake. Many will be a combination of both. There may also be complicating factors like pain, inflammatory conditions, sleep apnoea, medications like steroids, etc. Your acupuncturist will work with you as a whole person, not just an insomnia case.
At Acupuncture Grove in Bondi Junction Sydney, we use acupuncture for insomnia tailored specifically to you. Typically if it’s going to be helpful for you, we will know very early on within the first 4-6 treatments (often earlier). That doesn’t mean that you will be sleeping like a baby within that time, but you should feel some early signs of improvement from the acupuncture if it’s going to help.
Once we know how you’re responding to the acupuncture, we’ll then work out a treatment plan for you. The ultimate goal would be to get you to a place where you don’t need acupuncture anymore, or it’s just something you do for maintenance.
If you would like more information on the various types of acupuncture we specialise in to help with insomnia, you can check out our dedicated acupuncture page for more details.
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Tailored Treatment for Each Individual
Chinese herbal medicine may also be a useful adjunct when working with insomnia as it’s something to keep treatment going each day. It’s the same idea as acupuncture, we use it for a period to help address certain imbalances, but as you improve, we aim to get to a point where it’s no longer necessary. If it’s something that we feel will help you along, we’ll discuss it as part of the treatment plan.
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Chinese Herbal Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions
There is research to suggest that acupuncture can improve subjective sleep quality among those with chronic insomnia (see here). To find out if it will work for you, the best thing to do is to try a series of sessions and find out first hand how you respond.
This will vary from person to person, depending on various different factors. A good ballpark would be 6-12 sessions to find out if it’s going to be effective for you. Within that time you’ve allowed for the accumulative effect of acupuncture to start to work and you should be experiencing positive signs of improvement, if it’s going to work for you. From there, further sessions may be recommended as needed or for maintenance.
This varies widely. Some may experience improvements from the first or very early sessions, while some will respond more slowly over time and of course, then there will be some who don’t respond as expected.
This will depend on the person and the acupuncture they are receiving (there are many different approaches to acupuncture). If you are looking to avoid or come off sleeping medication, a course of acupuncture is worth considering, though you should always consult with your prescribing doctor before making any changes to your medication. There is some research to suggest that acupuncture may be more effective than the use of benzodiazepines, with less unwanted side effects (see here).
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by a trained practitioner, using sterile needles. Studies report minimal adverse effects, especially in contrast to common risks associated with sleeping medications.
The goal of acupuncture is always to treat you as a whole person, so if there are other underlying reasons for your insomnia, such as chronic pain, stress or digestive issues, these will become a main focus of your treatment.
Visit Our Clinic
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LOCATION ADDRESS
2/15 Bronte Rd,
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Located across the road from Westfield Shopping Centre
OPENING HOURS
MON: 9:00am - 6:30pm
TUE: Closed
WED: Closed
THU: 9:00am - 6:30pm
FRI: 8:00am - 1:30pm
SAT: Closed
SUN: Closed
Professionally Certified Acupuncture For Insomnia in Bondi Junction, Sydney
Meet Your Acupuncturist
Hi, I'm Gavin from Acupuncture Grove, based in Boni Junction, Sydney.
For those who live with insomnia or have experienced episodes of it, you very quickly realise how important sleep is for us to function physically, mentally and emotionally. Without a regular good night’s sleep we don’t think as clearly, we don’t feel as strong or energetic, we’re more sensitive to pain, we don’t recover as quickly from injury or exercise, we have a shorter fuse or can feel more anxious.
If you would like to try acupuncture for your insomnia in Sydney, then reach out below and book your initial consultation.
Gavin Martin-Rentz
Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist
Understanding Your Insomnia
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Types of Insomnia
Insomnia can be broken into two main categories:
1. Onset insomnia - where there is difficulty falling asleep initially.
2. Maintenance insomnia - where there is waking during the night.
Then, there are some unlucky people who experience a combination of both.
Insomnia can create a vicious cycle for some where an anxiety of going to bed and not being able to sleep develops. You’re afraid of laying there awake, not getting enough sleep and you know that it will mean you’re going to struggle the next day. This anxiety increases the sympathetic fight or flight response which readies your body for action and keeps you alert and awake. You reinforce your fear by being unable to sleep and the cycle repeats itself.
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Traditional Treatment
Sleeping tablets are often prescribed and may help for short term situations, but are not an ideal long term solution for those experiencing chronic insomnia. Often people may report waking up feeling more groggy the next day after taking medication. Someone with insomnia is really just looking for a way to sleep well tonight and every other night, naturally.
If this describes you, and you're looking for a natural solution to fix your sleep, it might be time to try acupuncture. Book your initial consultation or reach out with any questions below.