It's spring and Chinese New Year! It's a time of new beginning, of cleaning out the closet, of changing habits. It's hard to feel great, though, if you are plagued by sleep problems. Whereas some take pharmaceuticals to induce sleep, it's not resolving the reason why sleep wasn't coming in the first place. Often patients don't know why they can't sleep. They just know that if they could just sleep more, or more soundly, they'd feel more productive, happier, and look refreshed.
I like to remind patients that sleep deprivation is an effective form of torture; so why torture yourself?! If you are not sleeping enough, then come in for acupuncture (ideally, a few appointments close together) and chances are the amount and quality of your sleep will improve and have a lasting impact. If the reason you weren't sleeping is pain waking you up, or you're still processing a recently stressful life event, it can be worked out through acupuncture.
HOW does acupuncture affect sleep? Put most simply, acupuncture performs a manual reboot of many body systems. It calms the mind, distributes blood more evenly, and regulates cycles (in sleep, menstruation, digestion, etc).
Acupuncture does not hurt, and most people report dozing off while on the table, feeling as if they are floating, and having creative thoughts. Acupuncture releases the body's natural painkillers, endorphins.
-Dana Hoffman, L.Ac., Licensed Acupuncturist
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