Do you suffer from Insomnia?
General medical guidelines recommend we should try to get between 7 and 8 hours sleep per night. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in Ireland suffer from Insomnia, and many people who can’t sleep often have to resort to using sleeping tablets to deal with this lack of sleep.
Insomnia can have negative impacts on a person and result in fatigue, low energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in mood, anxiety and can affect performance at work or school.
What is Insomnia or sleeplessness?
Insomnia or sleeplessness is a disorder which includes symptoms such as the inability to sleep, difficulty in falling asleep, frequent waking, restlessness at night or a disordered sleep cycle. Chronic insomnia or sleeplessness can last for months or longer and is often caused by unhealthy sleep habits, stress and other health issues, shift work or medication.
Possible Causes of Insomnia may be emotional upset, anxiety, stress, Chronic pain, Breathing difficulties or Depression.
Symptoms of Insomnia :
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Awakening during the night
- Awakening early
- Sensation of tiredness after sleep
- Fatigue during the day
- Depression, feeling low
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Reduced concentration
- Headaches
At Shen we use Acupuncture to treat Insomnia. Acupuncture is part of the system of healthcare known as Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body helping to encourage the normal flow of Qi in the meridians, keeping the body in balance and reinforcing health.
Acupuncture does not just treat the symptoms, but works on treating the root cause of disharmony in the body which is causing the condition. Therefore not only does acupuncture treat Insomnia and improve your quality of sleep, but it also can improve your overall physical and mental health.
During a consultation we will ask specific questions relating to sleeping habits and patterns. We also look at various areas of life which can have an effect on sleep patterns such as diet, exercise, work and home stressors and any underlying health issues. Based on this information, along with a tongue and pulse diagnosis, we will then formulate a personalised treatment plan.
We use a naturopathic approach in our treatments for insomnia and include diet and lifestyle recommendations, supplements, herbs and flower essences.
Read our testimonials to see what our patients think.
Learn how to sleep better with some tips on how to get a good nights sleep !
- Go to bed and wake up at a regular time, even at the weekends!
- Take a warm bath or shower before going to bed, this can help to relax your mind and body.
- Wind down and turn off the TV, Computer, Tablet & mobile phone at least an hour before going to bed. Studies have shown that the light these emit can stimulate the brain and make it more difficult to sleep.
- Use heavy curtains making sure the room is dark.
- Use white noise to block out any distractions which may prevent you from falling asleep or wake you up during the night.
- Limit exercising, heavy meals or alcohol at night.
Sweet Dreams!
