When sleep no longer comes naturally: what can acupuncture offer?

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A good night’s sleep may seem like something we can take for granted. Yet sleep can become surprisingly complicated. You may feel tired but be unable to fall asleep. You may wake up during the night and find yourself unable to stop thinking. Or you may sleep for enough hours but still wake up feeling unrefreshed.

An occasional bad night is usually nothing to worry about. But when sleep problems occur regularly, they can have a significant impact on how you feel and function during the day.

Acupuncture may be helpful for people experiencing sleep problems. So how does Traditional Chinese Medicine view sleep?

Sleep as part of a natural rhythm
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, wakefulness and sleep are part of a single natural rhythm. The concepts of Yin and Yang describe the different movements within this rhythm.

Yang is associated with activity, movement, alertness and being directed towards the outside world. Yin is associated with rest, recovery and turning inward. Yin and Yang are not opposing forces that exclude each other. They complement each other and alternate continuously.

During the day, we are active and alert. As evening approaches, activity gradually decreases and there is more room for rest. In the morning, activity begins to increase again.

From this perspective, balance does not mean that Yin and Yang are constantly equally strong. Rather, it means that activity and rest can alternate naturally. This natural rhythm can be disrupted by factors such as prolonged exertion, stress, emotions, an irregular daily routine or insufficient recovery.

When the body and mind have difficulty shifting from activity to rest, this may, for example, manifest as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

When the body is tired but the mind is still active
The Shen also plays an important role in sleep in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shen is often translated as ‘spirit’ or ‘mind’ and refers, among other things, to consciousness, mental activity and our presence in the world. In TCM, the Shen is associated with the Heart as an organ. The Heart is regarded as the place where the Shen ‘resides’. In this way, TCM connects the mental and the physical: body and mind are not seen as separate but as influencing each other.

During the day, the Shen is active. We are awake, perceive, think, feel and respond to our surroundings. During sleep, this activity settles. In classical Chinese medicine, a good night’s sleep is therefore also associated with the Shen coming to rest.

Different sleep problems, different patterns
Some people have difficulty falling asleep. Others wake several times during the night or wake too early. Someone else may sleep for enough hours but still feel unrefreshed. For one person, mental restlessness may be the main feature. For another, physical symptoms, lifestyle or their daily rhythm may play a greater role.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, these signs are considered in relation to one another because together they can provide insight into the pattern underlying a complaint.

What does this mean for an acupuncture treatment?
The acupuncturist therefore looks at more than just how you sleep. They may also ask about your energy levels throughout the day, when you wake during the night and what you experience physically and mentally. Your lifestyle and personal circumstances may also be relevant.

Someone who has particular difficulty settling down may therefore receive a different treatment from someone whose sleep problems are associated with an irregular daily rhythm or other physical symptoms.

The sleep complaint is considered as part of the bigger picture and the choice of acupuncture points is tailored accordingly.

Would you like to know what acupuncture could mean for you?
Do you regularly experience sleep problems? An NVA-acupuncturist can look at your sleep pattern together with you and consider the physical and mental signs that may be relevant.

Find an NVA-acupuncturist near you.