Amazing Acupuncture - Can it help you sleep?
There are many holistic therapies that are now available to help insomnia.
Traditional acupuncture is known to help improve sleep and aid relaxation.
Acupuncture is a natural system of healing and is believed to have been developed in Ancient China, where is has been practised for over two thousand years. The ancient Chinese outlined some of the basic concepts of acupuncture such as the human body having twelve meridians or channels that linked to our emotions and internal organs, along which the Qi or life force flowed. If these meridians were blocked in some way, the energy flow was also obstructed leading to physical ailments or emotional problems. It is a safe and effective treatment that involves inserting sterile needles, no bigger than a human hair, painlessly into selected acupuncture points on the body which release the blockages allowing energy to flow freely again.
Acupuncture was first introduced into Europe in the 16th century by French missionaries who had worked in China, and was first discussed by the medical world in an article published in the famous medical journal ‘The Lancet’ in 1823. The visit of the US President Nixon to China in the 1970’s brought it back into the media spotlight, when reports were released of operations being undertaken in China where acupuncture was the only anaesthetic that was used.
Now researchers and scientists believe that acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system when the very fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body, which releases chemicals that enhance physical and emotional wellbeing.
In recent years there have been many research studies carried out to look at the efficacy of acupuncture, several of which have specifically looked at insomnia. The results show that acupuncture is at least as beneficial as existing conventional medication for promoting a good night’s sleep and also it has none of the potential side effects.
Ross Barr, a leading London acupuncturist says “Traditional acupuncture treats the whole body and is known to be enormously beneficial for helping to correct sleep problems. The treatment is wonderfully relaxing and it increases the levels of melatonin secretion in the brain which helps to increase blood flow around the brain. It promotes relaxation in the mind and body by both reducing sympathetic nervous system activity and helping to regulate chemicals such as serotonin in the brain. It calms the nervous system and also increases endorphin production”
Getting a good night’s sleep is so important for our health and well being that is worth considering giving a complementary therapy like acupuncture a try. It could well prove to be just what you need to help you experience a deep, refreshing sleep and waking up feeling refreshed and energized in the mornings.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that any information given in this article should in no way be used to replace advice given to you by your medical practitioner. Anybody suffering from a medical condition or who is at all concerned should always consult their doctor before booking an acupuncture treatment. Also, if you are taking sleeping medication prescribed by your doctor, consult with them beforehand if you want to stop taking it.
