Acupuncture for Insomnia

Get Your Z’s the Natural Way: Acupuncture for Insomnia

People are getting less and less sleep in the modern times we live in, yet quality sleep is crucial for both physical and mental health and well-being. It is part of the foundation of our health.

Modern medicine defines insomnia as a sleep disorder characterized by any of the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty initiating sleep
  • Difficulty maintaining sleep
  • Waking up too early
  • Non-restorative or poor quality of sleep

Insomnia is incredibly prevalent, with some studies showing as many as 58% of adults report some symptoms of insomnia a few nights a week¹. It is estimated that insomnia costs the US economy $63.2 billion a year in lost productivity². We often use caffeine to combat the effects of poor sleep and sleep deprivation, but it’s not a long-term solution. I think of sleep as the glue that holds us together. If sleep suffers, we can start to fall apart either physically, mentally, or both. Poor sleep weakens our immune system and puts us at greater risk for everything from colds and flu to cancer and high blood pressure.

Modern allopathic treatment options often consist of medications that can be great for the occasional sleepless night, but often have accompanying side effects if used in the long term. They can become habit-forming—and more important—can prevent your brain from going through the natural cycle of stages of sleep, preventing you from achieving deep, quality sleep. This results in sleep that is not truly restful or restorative, and will leave you feeling groggy in the morning. Over time, lack of rest leads to more problems. Your body cannot sustain itself long-term without enough quality, deep sleep, so looking at different ways to get a good night’s sleep could be very beneficial.

Acupuncture for Insomnia Offers a Different Approach

Thankfully there are alternatives to pharmaceutical treatments for insomnia. I prefer to look at anything going on in someone’s body or mind as a way in which our body is communicating with our conscious mind. It is a way for our body to tell us that something is out of balance and needs attention. Instead of just ignoring the imbalance and trying to forcefully curb the symptoms with medications, I encourage people to heed these messages and examine where the imbalance is coming from and how it can be corrected. I help people rediscover balance with Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for insomnia.

Natural Ways to Sleep Better at Night

I work closely with patients to understand the type of insomnia they are suffering from, and the lifestyle factors which are contributing to it. I devise a treatment strategy to address their insomnia and help them restore their sleeping patterns to normal. Acupuncture for insomnia involves weekly acupuncture sessions, drinking a custom herbal medicine formula twice-daily, and certain diet and lifestyle modifications to improve sleep hygiene. With diligent compliance, patients often see sustained improvement within one to two months. Patients also gain an awareness over time of how things like stress, technology, and food habits affect their sleep, and how to sleep better at night naturally.

What People Are Saying About Tim Asher, SF Acupuncturist

“I had an exceptional experience with Tim. Two things in particular stand out. First and most important, I slept like a baby for the first night all week after our session. I’d been experiencing unsettling energy and insomnia which I never have. That night I slept great. Secondly, Tim is thoughtful, patient and a soothing presence. I felt very comfortable throughout the whole experience…”

— Jan S., San Francisco