Acupuncture for Insomnia
Return to Rest
Sleep is the cornerstone of our vitality, yet for many of us, it can feel increasingly out of reach. You might struggle to fall asleep as your mind replays the day’s events, or find yourself waking in the early hours, unable to settle back into stillness.
In Five Element Acupuncture, we view sleep not just as a "biological necessity," but as a sacred transition where our energy moves from the activity of the day (Yang) into the deep, nourishing restorative state of the night (Yin). When this transition is disrupted, it is often a sign that your system has lost its rhythm. Rather than just treating the "symptom" of sleeplessness, we look for the underlying disharmony—helping your body remember how to let go.
Modern life often keeps us in a state of hyper-arousal, making it difficult for the body to signal that it is safe to sleep. According to the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), acupuncture offers a gentle, non-pharmacological way to reset these internal signals and improve the quality of your rest.
What to Expect
In my clinics in Hackney and Central London, your treatment is a time for deep "unplugging." Most patients find that the sense of relaxation they experience during a session stays with them, leading to a quieter mind and a more grounded presence long after they leave the clinic. We work together to help you move from a place of exhaustion back into a place of natural, restorative flow.
During sessions I may also advise on lifestyle, supplementation and Chinese Medicine dietary approaches - where appropriate.
Key Clinical Insights:
Melatonin and Serotonin: Research suggests that acupuncture can stimulate the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating our sleep-wake cycles, while also boosting serotonin levels to promote a sense of calm.
Quietening the Mind: Clinical studies indicate that acupuncture can decrease the fast, analytical brainwaves associated with a busy mind—encouraging the brain to shift into the slower, restorative "alpha" and "theta" waves needed for sleep.
Soothing the Nervous System: By communicating with the nervous system, acupuncture helps to down-regulate the sympathetic "fight or flight" response, reducing the nighttime cortisol spikes that often lead to early morning waking.
Addressing the Whole Person: Research shows that by improving related symptoms such as chronic pain or anxiety, acupuncture provides a multi-layered approach to resolving insomnia, leading to deeper and more consistent sleep patterns over time.