CONTRIBUTED CONTENT: Restful nights: Using acupuncture for deep, restful sleep
There are few simple pleasures in life better than getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep is the time when the body repairs tissues and the brain clears out toxins and consolidates memories. Quality sleep helps maintain a healthy weight by regulating hunger hormones like leptin and ghrelin, and it supports cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure. It also boosts the immune system by producing cytokines, which help the body fight off infections and recover from illness. There are so many benefits to a good night’s sleep — it’s one of the foundations of good health. You can take the next step toward better sleep with acupuncture and natural medicine.
Acupuncture offers a time-tested, holistic approach to improving sleep quality naturally. Sleep disturbances are a sign that the body is out of balance — often due to stress, digestive imbalances, hormonal fluctuations, or a deficiency of nourishing energy. Rather than masking symptoms, acupuncture and natural medicine work to identify and treat the root causes of insomnia, restoring the body’s innate rhythm and promoting truly restorative sleep.
Acupuncture can help promote deep, restful sleep by regulating the nervous system and helping to balance sleep-related hormones. It helps shift the body from a "fight or flight" sympathetic state to a "rest and digest" parasympathetic state, which calms the mind and reduces physical tension. It supports the body’s natural rhythm so you can relax and rest when you get into bed.
Along with acupuncture treatment, there are some easy things you can do to improve your sleep cycle.
Get morning sun. Exposure to natural light early in the day helps regulate your circadian rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep at night. Aim for 15-30 minutes of morning sunlight.
Avoid late-day stimulants. Heavy meals, spicy foods and alcohol close to bedtime can disrupt digestion and disturb sleep. Stop eating for a couple of hours before you settle down for the night. You might even experiment with eating dinner earlier and see whether your sleep improves.
Limit screen time before bed. Blue light from phones, tablets and computers can interfere with melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. Avoid using these electronic devices at least one hour before bed.
Optimize your sleep environment. Keep your bedroom cool, around 60–67°F, to help promote deeper sleep.
Using sleep medications can be helpful temporarily, but they can carry significant risks long-term. Next day drowsiness, dizziness, and muddled thinking can also occur. Whenever possible, it is worth looking for ways to improve sleep naturally rather than relying on medication.
Why not improve your sleep with natural medicine and acupuncture? The integrative care offered at Vital Health can be a valuable part of improving sleep naturally, with benefits that extend well beyond simply feeling more rested.
Want to explore this topic further? Listen to Episode 8, “Everything You Need to Know About Sleep,” on the VitalHealth4You podcast. Find VitalHealth4You on your favorite podcast app or visit vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/
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Greg Anderton holds a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is a Licensed Acupuncturist. He is additionally trained in Clinical Nutrition and Herbal Medicine. He has over 20 years of experience in natural medicine. Greg is a “Health Detective,” he looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Greg is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene. Visit our website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Greg, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Greg can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.