Tips For Deep Sleep: Acupuncture for Sleep Hacking
The idea of poking yourself with sharp objects (commonly needles) might not be appealing if we are talking about practical ways to improve sleeping habits. But take heed, first impressions are often deceitful.
The straightforward approach is to try the standard remedies that work for you. And if they don’t, well, think out of the box. There’s acupuncture for example. Unbeknownst to many, acupuncture is effective against sleeping disorders.
Acupuncture is one of the most treasured Chinese medicine practices. Today, Western medicine practices acupuncture as an alternative and complementary therapy by many medical practitioners. It’s slowly gaining a favorable approval among people who suffers from different health problems, drug-induced diseases, alcohol addiction and insomnia.
Evidences exist to prove that acupuncture was used in Europe, hundreds of years ago. But the practice came to be known around the world on the second half of twentieth century.
Unfortunately, acupuncture gained an undeserved reputation as an unsupported practice without enough evidence.
To shed some light about this, acupuncture not only works for Chinese medicine and simple self-experimentation, but also there is a substantial clinical evidence behind using acupuncture for improving sleep and curing sleep disorders.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment that involves the insertion of thin needles to your skin at the specific points in the body. The depth of the needles insertion depends on the severity of your body’s problems.
According to the medical theory of Chinese practices, the acupressure points in your body is located on the meridian part where ‘qi’ or the vital energy of the body passes.
Suffice to say there’s no scientific explanations yet to back up the benefits of acupuncture but countless of therapeutic benefits are enough proofs that this practice works.
How Acupuncture Works
The acupuncturist used needles to open the channels of your qi which have become blocked.
When your spiritual and physical energy flow shuts down, your body hits back with sickness and other bodily malfunctions like insomnia. The symptoms involves obstruction of the energy which the acupuncture relieves.
Evidence Behind Acupuncture for Insomnia
A study conducted in 2004 found that acupuncture increases night time melatonin (natural hormone made by the pineal gland) production and total sleep time. The patients, who underwent acupuncture treatment fell asleep faster, experienced less stress and less arousal at night.
Further studies and researchers also found that acupuncture also improves the sleep quality of patients with HIV. Sleep disturbance is a common problem among people infected with HIV. What’s more is that, acupuncture is also effective in relieving chronic pain.
Using Acupuncture for Sleep Hacking
For those interested in trying acupuncture to improve sleep, these are the steps to follow:
- Look for a qualified acupuncturist. Getting a botched treatment from a bogus or fake acupuncturist would be the last thing you want to happen.
- Make sure that you are comfortable with your acupuncturist. Acupuncture is not just about needles. It’s important that you trust the healing abilities of the person. It does not mean that an acupuncturist who you do not like won’t help. Staying comfortable and relaxed helps you get the most out of the experience. So, sit back and relax in the couch.
- It’s not a one strike deal so give acupuncture an honest effort and several treatments at least before you decide if it helps or not. It may take several visits before you notice the changes. At other times the improvements are lasting and immediate.
Acupuncturist can’t cure sleeping problems in one trip. In fact, practitioners will advise you to return for another set of therapy. This depends on how acute or severe the sleeping disorders that you have.
A lot of patients experienced relaxation and calmness after acupuncture sessions and others report an immediate relief from stress.
A particular type of insomnia is the evident of a primitive energy balance in Chinese medicine practice which is incomparable. Different type of insomnia requires different approach in acupuncture. They will never be treated in the same manner because each disorder is related to a particular imbalance issue.
Takeaway
Trying acupuncture may still not be appealing to you, but researchers and much personal experimental biohacking have shown that it is indeed, effective. It may have received a dubious reputation for being “woo-woo”, but again acupuncture is successful in dealing with insomnia for centuries and continues to provide relief to people who suffers from different sleeping disorders.
Author Bio:
Alyssa Mason Prout is an active traveler and blogger. She constantly travels on different countries to explore the latest trends in fashion, health and industrial scene. She also loves writing, and it has been her greatest passion. Whatever she learns in her journey, she writes it and shares it with her readers. Alyssa is an active contributor for Focus on Furniture, a website that sells furniture and bedding.
