fEEL BETTER & DO MORE

If you’ve ever spent a night tossing and turning, you already know how it affects the next day — feeling tired, irritable, unfocused, and out of balance. But regularly missing the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep does far more than leave you feeling groggy. The long-term effects of sleep deprivation are real.

Chronic poor sleep has been linked to a range of health concerns, including reduced cognitive function, weakened immunity, weight gain, and increased stress levels. Over time, insufficient sleep can place significant strain on both mental and physical health, ultimately lowering overall quality of life.

Why Sleep Is Essential

Sleep is a vital restorative process. During sleep, the body repairs tissues, restores hormonal and chemical balance, and supports immune function. At the same time, the brain consolidates memory, processes emotions, and forms new neural connections. Without adequate sleep, these essential systems cannot function optimally, leaving both mind and body depleted.

How Can Acupuncture Help With Insomnia?

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, insomnia is not viewed as a single condition but as the result of underlying imbalances within the body. There are several well-established TCM patterns that help explain why the mind may remain active at night, even when the body feels physically exhausted.

Rather than focusing only on sleep itself, a skilled TCM practitioner takes a holistic approach, asking about daily energy levels, digestion, emotional health, stress, and other symptoms. These signs help identify what is out of balance and guide treatment aimed at restoring harmony within the body and calming the mind.

Scientific Research & Acupuncture for Sleep

Research has explored acupuncture’s potential role in improving sleep quality:

• A preliminary study published in 2004 found that acupuncture increased night-time melatonin production and total sleep time in patients with anxiety-related insomnia. Participants also fell asleep faster, experienced less night-time arousal, and reported reduced stress levels. The researchers concluded that acupuncture “may be of value for some categories of anxious patients with insomnia.”

• Another study observed that individualised acupuncture significantly improved sleep quality in patients living with HIV, a population in which sleep disturbance is common, after five weeks of treatment.

• Earlier research has also suggested that acupuncture may improve sleep quality in people with insomnia without underlying medical conditions, indicating potential benefits beyond illness-related sleep disruption.

The studies mentioned above are provided for general educational purposes only. Individual results may vary. You are encouraged to conduct your own research and consult with your qualified TCM practitioner to determine whether acupuncture is appropriate for your individual needs.

Prefer a Needle-Free Option?

If you are uncomfortable with needles, we also offer laser Acupuncture, a gentle, needle-free and pain-free alternative designed to stimulate acupuncture points without skin penetration.

Further Reading

• The Power of Acupuncture: A Restorative Journey for Insomnia
  (more articles available on our blog)