Insomnia is more serious than an inability to fall asleep early and has more debilitating effects than are commonly recognized. An estimated 32 million people suffer from insomnia in the U.S. Oriental medicine, with its focus on healing whole syndromes rather than individual symptoms, has shown great success treating those who experience insomnia.
Acupuncture and herbs have shown to be beneficial in alleviating the symptoms of insomnia by treating the root of the problem. Insomnia may have a number of causes, including stress, depression or anxiety; irregular work schedules; medications, drug or alcohol abuse; major life changes; chronic pain, hyperthyroidism or arthritis.
A study published recently in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, reports that patients who received acupressure and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) experienced a significant improvement with their symptoms, including problems of fatigue, sleep quality and depression. The results from this study suggest that acupressure or TEAS might have an important role in managing patients with fatigue, poor sleep quality and depression.
By addressing all of the contributing factors using acupuncture and herbs, a patient can completely resolve their sleep disturbances. Oriental medicine helps do this by treating the whole person and focusing on bringing the entire body into balance.
