Although acupuncture was first introduced thousands of years ago, there’s no surprise why it remains popular today. It’s recognized as an effective, drug-free treatment for chronic pain, as well as dozens of other medical conditions 一 including migraines! And the benefits don’t stop there. Acupuncture can even help you sleep better.
Here’s what you need to know about acupuncture and improved sleep.
The Link Between Pain and Sleep
Here at Premier Chiropractic, our chiropractors, Barry Hughes, DC and Brittany Anz, DC, know that body aches, stress, and underlying medical conditions have a complicated relationship with sleep. Pain can make it harder to fall (or stay) asleep, and a lack of sleep can increase pain sensitivity. It’s a self-perpetuating and vicious cycle, but it’s one that acupuncture attempts to break.
Acupuncture can help you sleep better in a few ways. Most importantly, acupuncture addresses chronic pain, whether that’s lower back pain or chronic headaches, so you can sleep better. When your pain is managed, your stress levels come down, you can relax easier, and you can fall asleep easier without the threat of pain waking you up in the middle of the night. Acupuncture also helps in reducing pain by releasing endorphins and serotonin.
Treating pain with acupuncture helps you sleep better by restoring your mobility. For example, if a stiff, sore neck makes it hard to sleep in your favorite position, you might not feel as rested. Using acupuncture to reduce pain and restore functionality enables you to fall asleep in your favorite position once again.
Beyond Pain Relief, Acupuncture Helps with Insomnia
Acupuncture is well-known for reducing pain, but did you know it can also help you reduce stress? Stress (which can also be intertwined with chronic pain) makes it harder to quiet your mind enough to fall asleep at night. Acupuncture helps you sleep better by increasing relaxation. Even your 60 minute acupuncture session can be a relaxing time where you can lay down, enjoy the quiet peace, and practice mindfulness.
Acupuncture promotes sleep by tapping into your circadian rhythm and helping to regulate it. The acupuncture needles trigger the release of natural melatonin in your body to help improve sleep. For this reason, acupuncture has been proven effective in treating insomnia.
Specifically, certain acupuncture sites stimulate overnight melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that your body automatically creates in response to darkness. This is part of your circadian rhythm.
Can Acupuncture Help You Sleep Better?
To circle back to the titular question, yes, acupuncture can help you sleep better. You might consider acupuncture if:
- You have chronic musculoskeletal pain that interferes with your sleep
- You have underlying conditions, such as fibromyalgia or migraines, that make it hard to rest
- You have insomnia
- It’s hard for you to fall or stay asleep
- You never feel refreshed after sleeping
- You have high stress levels that contribute to poor sleep quality
Don’t let poor sleep quality control your life. Whether you’re dealing with insomnia or poor sleep caused by chronic pain, we’re ready to help explore your unique needs. To book an acupuncture consultation, call our Pearland, Texas, office at 281-223-1172. Don’t forget: you can always book appointments online any time day or night.