Stop Counting Sheep

Insomina01According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 40 percent of U.S. women and 30 percent of U.S. men suffer from insomnia, a condition characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Lack of sleep can have a wide variety of negative consequences – daytime drowsiness, irritability, depression and an increased risk of various health problems. The most common treatment for insomnia in the United States consists of prescription sleep aids such as sedatives, hypnotics and antidepressants. Prescription sleeping aids are one of the most highly overused medications and can lead to side effects and addiction.

A preliminary report in 2004 found patients who have anxiety, acupuncture increased their nighttime melatonin production and total sleep time. The patients who received acupuncture also fell asleep faster, were less restless during the night and felt less stressed. The researchers concluded that, “Acupuncture treatment may be of value for some categories of anxious patients with insomnia.”

Another study has shown that acupuncture works for people without health problems, too. A study in 1999 found that acupuncture improved sleep quality in normal people with insomnia.

In order to best treat your insomnia, we first need to determine why you are suffering with insomnia – pain, menopause, stress, depression, anxiety, etc.  Then with Acupuncture treat the root of the problem causing your  insomnia

“Although insomnia is the most common sleep complaint, it is not a single sleep disorder. It’s more accurate to think of insomnia as a symptom of another problem. The problem causing the insomnia differs from person to person,” says HelpGuide.org.

Acupuncture may not be your first thought on the best method to improve your sleep, but research have shown that Acupuncture can help with sleeping disorders without the risk of addiction or putting chemicals your body.  Acupuncture can actually be an effective way to improve your sleep quality and leaves out the dependency of sleep-aid medications.

Are you tired of being tired?  Call  today 253-252-7195 or send us email to get a good night sleep and to stop counting sheep.

Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14990755
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10077713

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