HealthNotes

Insomnia can be triggered by psychological stress. Dealing with stress, through counseling or other techniques, may be the key to a better night’s rest. Many trials have shown that psychological intervention can be helpful for insomnia.³ A combined program of counseling, sleep restriction methods (i.e., the only time spent in bed is when sleeping), and control of stimuli that might interfere with sleep, significantly increased sleep time in a group of people with insomnia.⁴

Acupuncture may be helpful for insomnia, possibly by increasing production of calming neurotransmitters such as serotonin and other substances.⁵ A preliminary trial found one acupuncture treatment daily for seven to ten days resulted in complete recovery of normal sleep in 59% of patients and partial recovery in 21%.⁶ A controlled trial treated patients with either acupuncture or fake acupuncture (insertion of needles at non-acupuncture points). The patients receiving true acupuncture had significant improvements in a laboratory measure of sleep quality compared to the placebo group.⁷ The treatment of insomnia with auricular (ear) acupuncture may provide similar benefits to people with insomnia, according to a preliminary trial.⁸ However, double-blind trials are necessary to conclusively determine the value of acupuncture in treating insomnia.