Acupuncture - Treat insomnia one night at a time

Insomnia and difficulty sleeping is a common experience in today's busy, information overload society. Especially in metropolitan cities like Boston, with the excitement of living in an area full of people and many experiences, and refreshing enough sleep can be difficult. Chances are you may have experienced or are experiencing difficulty sleeping. If so, you're not alone. A 2002 study by the National Sleep Foundation found that about 58% of adults in the United States experienced symptoms of insomnia a few nights a week or more. Women in particular are 40% more likely to experience sleep problems than men.

So what does this mean for you as you are turning over in bed? First, let's talk a little about what the long-term insomnia. Most commonly refers to a report by a person who experiences difficulty sleeping or have difficulty falling or staying asleep. From there, insomnia is classified as primary or secondary. Primary insomnia is not connected with another cause medical, psychiatric, or environmental, while secondary insomnia is co-morbid, or caused by a number of things, including but not limited to, sleep apnea, use of stimulants hormonal changes during menopause such as that pain or mental disorders like depression or anxiety.

If you have trouble sleeping and is seeking a natural approach to relieve the discomfort and improve the quality and quantity of sleep, you may want to try some of these recommendations.

Meditation - awake in bed, with an emphasis on not being able to sleep only adds fuel to the fire burning in his overactive mind. Meditation training and attention helps to smother the fire. A study by Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 2009 showed that patients who took the time to meditate twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes in a span of two months were able to fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly than those who do not did. The meditation or relaxation activities such as yoga that incorporate aspects of the practice of care, can reduce levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is the hormone that is responsible for the feelings that accompany stressful situations in life .... feelings of "fight or flight" response.

Chinese Medicine - Regular sessions of acupuncture can help lower cortisol levels. By balancing the sympathetic (stress) and parasympathetic (relaxation) nervous system, can take the edge off the tension and anxiety that may be feeling. This allows you to better manage stressful situations and recover from the cases without the destructive cycle of sleep disorders that damage the body's capacity for renewal. In addition, Chinese herbal medicine, not only can help with insomnia symptoms, but can address the physical cause of the problem within his own body.

Exercise - Exercise helps to expend extra mental energy you may have, resulting in physical effort. That will force the body to use the hormones that cause your symptoms of stress and leave you in a more relaxed fit. You can even use a technique known as progressive muscle relaxation to help you while you are awake in bed. The technique consists of deep abdominal breathing and a cycle of tension and relaxation of muscles throughout the body. Start in the calf muscle of one leg and then climb up the body, tensing and relaxing muscles in the road. Besides having the opportunity to put the activity of the mind to another topic, and his inability to sleep, but also gives real information about what a relaxed muscle feels.

Only a specialist knows enough to diagnose the reality of different sleep disorders that fall under the general term insomnia, but if you struggle with sleep, which may not be aware of the questions posed to health. In a study by the American Cancer Society, people who slept less than 6 hours of sleep per night had a higher risk than those who are about 7 hours of sleep. In addition to an increased risk of death, insomnia has been linked to increased risk of other diseases and disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

If you are interested in a natural and holistic approach difficulties in their sleep, then Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, a treatment that could be worth investigating. Find an acupuncturist, a few questions about your particular case and begins a series of treatment. There is not, however, that Chinese medicine is not a magic wand and chronic sleep disorders and entrenched it will take time to deal with, but overall, you will be healthier to leave you were coming in. So give acupuncture a opportunity and best wishes for a sound and restful sleep.