Friday, May 8, 2009

Can Acupuncture Help With Insomnia and Staying Alert?


Acupuncture and Acupressure apply pressure to certain points along the flow of energy or "qi" in the body. This therapy is often used to promote health, prevent and treat disease and relieve pain.

Some reports tell us that acupuncture has a high success rate in helping with insomnia . Pressure on certain points of the energy chain of the body encourages an increase of the hormone serotonin that produces sleep. Try this technique by putting pressure on the “Inner Gate” spot to help reduce anxiety, slow the heart and promote sleep . Tape a dried kidney bean to the inside of your right wrist. Locate this point between the two tendons by measuring the width of three fingers from the wrist crease. Even if you have night sweats or hot flashes this technique should give you at least eight hours of very sound sleep.

Studies have also shown that acupuncture can help people stay awake. A study done by the University of Michigan showed students how to use certain pressure points to stay more alert in class without the need for large doses of caffeine or other artificial sleep aids. Students using these acupressure points were able to stay more alert and focused. This might possibly work for people working night hours, or anyone who suffers from excessive daytime sleepiness.

According to the study, acupressure/acupuncture stimulation points include:
• The top of the head
• The top of the back of the neck on both sides
• On the back of the hands between the thumb and forefinger
• Just below both knees
• On the bottom of the feet, at the center just below the balls of the feet.

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