Acupuncture helps deepen sleep
Previous research in the West as far back as 1977 has shown that acupuncture can improve sleep but now new research in 2012 has demonstrated that acupuncture can actually deepen sleep. When people sleep it is normal that they go through different stages and levels of sleep during the night. For example, there is what is known as a Theta level and a Delta level of sleep where the Delta level is sometimes called the Slow Wave Sleep (SWS).
During deep sleep when the brain is measured it can resonate at a specific frequency of 3.5 Hertz. Electro-Acupuncture is a modern technique of connecting wires to the acupuncture points and setting it at specific Hertz vibrations. The research done showed that the electro-Acupuncture changed the frequency of the brain waves and thus confirmed that acupuncture can deepen sleep.
It is well known that children sleep more deeply for longer periods and that elderly people have trouble sleeping deeply.
Research like this is of value because it can demonstrate that acupuncture by improving the sleep can also benefit other aspects of health and prevent disease. Other research has shown that improved sleep can aid weight loss and improve the mood and hence help depression.
There are many different acupuncture points that can help with sleep depending on what the cause of the insomnia is. One common point in the back of the neck is called anmian which translates as peaceful sleep and has been successfully used for centuries. Many Sleeping medications are addictive and others make patients feel groggy and drowsy in the morning.
Often patients seeking acupuncture for the treatment of another condition remark that since starting acupuncture they have noticed improved sleep as well. This is because acupuncture aims to restore harmony and balance in the body and by default it will stimulate your bodies healing mechanism to regulate itself and stimulate rejuvenation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed acupuncture as being a useful therapy in the treatment of insomnia.
