Few chronic health problems are as frustrating as insomnia, which means that a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep for several consecutive hours. Because of insomnia, Americans suffer from all-day fatigue, poor concentration, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, lost productivity, and several other serious effects. It’s a common complaint that can stem from a variety of causes such as stress, medication side effects, and consuming too much caffeine. However, it’s not always easy to resolve even when a person knows the cause.
Typical Treatment for Insomnia
According to the National Sleep Foundation, prescription and over-the-counter sleep aid medication is the most common way to treat insomnia. While this may work well for some people, others don’t want to become dependent on drugs to fall asleep. Sleep aids can also make it difficult to wake up in the morning and cause grogginess that lasts for several hours. To snap out of the sluggish feeling, some people consume caffeine or take other stimulants during the day and sleep aids at night. It becomes a vicious cycle for them.
Acupuncture an Alternative to Treat Insomnia
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting tiny needles into a specific area of the body to improve the flow of energy. Eastern medical practitioners believe that each type of insomnia is related to a disruption in the balance of energy in the patient’s body.
In addition to trouble falling asleep or staying asleep all night long, a person who struggles with insomnia may experience sleep disruption due to disruptive and vivid dreaming. The practitioner also needs to know whether the insomnia sufferer tends to wake in the middle of the night and not be able to return to sleep or if he or she wakes early in the morning with the inability to get back to sleep. This enables him or her to perform the most useful type of acupuncture for the patient’s symptoms. People who have had acupuncture frequently report feeling more relaxed, which in turn makes it easier for them to get a good night’s sleep.
Treating Insomnia with Chiropractic Care
Most people don’t think of scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor when they have a habitual sleep problem. However, back and neck pain may just be the culprit. Chiropractic care helps to ease pain and increases relaxation, both keys to a peaceful night’s sleep. A chiropractor can also provide helpful solutions to improve sleep quality, such as a certain body position, type of bed or pillow, or additional relaxation techniques. Even infants can benefit from chiropractic adjustments for better sleep.
Another benefit of chiropractic care for chronic insomnia is that it improves the body’s central nervous system. A healthy central nervous system is essential for many bodily functions. The less energy it needs to expend during the day, the easier it will be for the body and mind to slow down to allow for good quality of sleep at night.
Acupuncture and chiropractic care might not be the first things that come to mind when dealing with insomnia. However, they have shown promising results for those who wish to solve their sleep problem without drugs.