At this time of year the long days and short nights can make it harder to sleep.  The early sunrise stimulates our natural rhythms to wake us sooner than in the dark winter months.  This may be fine if you’ve had a long restful sleep but for the 29% of UK adults who suffer regularly from insomnia the bright early mornings can be a real problem.

Sedatives Vs Acupuncture

A study from Taiwan has found that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture is an effective alternative to Zolpidem, a type of sedative drug, for the treatment of insomnia.

Researchers looked at 33 patients with primary insomnia.  Half the group were treated with 10mg of Zolpidem each night for 4 weeks whilst the other half received acupuncture treatments once a week for the duration of the study.

At the end of the study both groups have improved significantly however the acupuncture group had no risk of any side effects from the sedative.

Zolpidem and other sedative drugs can trigger a range of unpleasant side effects including nausea, vomiting, joint pains, blurred vision and lack of memory.  These are a heavy price to pay for a good nights’ sleep!

How does Acupuncture help insomnia?

Acupuncture has been shown to support people with insomnia in several ways:

• Increasing blood flow to the brain.
• Reducing activity of the sympathetic nervous system; this is he branch of your nervous system that gets you ‘up and running’.  Reducing its activity makes it easier to relax and sleep.
• Regulating the production of neurotransmitters and chemicals such as melatonin and serotonin which maintain a healthy sleep/wake cycle and support mood balance and relaxation.

Alongside regular acupuncture treatments there are various diet and lifestyle measures you can use to enhance your sleep:

• Avoid caffeinated drinks after lunchtime; that mid-afternoon coffee may be keeping you awake at night!
• Drink plenty of water over the day to maintain hydration levels.
• Drink soothing herbal teas like chamomile, lemon balm, oat straw and lavender in the evening.
• Turn off all laptops, mobile phones and tablets at least an hour before bedtime.  The blue light emitted by these gadgets disrupts the secretion of sleep inducing brain chemicals.
• Keep your bedroom dark, cool and well-aired and opt for 100% cotton bed linen.

Do you long for a night of deep and restful sleep?

Would you like to wake feeling refreshed, energized and ready for the day ahead?

Get a good night sleep by calling Tiziana NOW on 07788 633292 or email at info@yorktraditionalacupuncture.co.uk to book your acupuncture session!