I'm all for alternative therapies to treat insomnia and enhance sleep. I'm not sure what that word "alternative" means anymore because so many treatments labeled as such are mainstream today. And real studies employing the scientific method continue to emerge for a variety of what were once called alternative therapies.
Case in point: I just read about a new study confirming what we've long thought to be true: acupressure can improve insomnia, and the benefits can last up to two weeks after treatment.
How does this actually work?
To start, treatment using acupressure is based on the ancient art of using pressure points to align "chakras" in the body, thought to release the body's natural healing powers. According to this theory, the human body contains a life energy (also called chi or qi), which flows through meridians in the body. When this energy is flowing properly, a person can be healthy and the body can heal, but when the energy is not flowing properly, disease--and disturbances like insomnia--can occur. In essence, acupressure aims to "re-flow" the energy to support health.
Now that may sound far-fetched, but there's plenty of science--and lots of anecdotal evidence--to show that whatever acupressure does can actually relieve pain and help treat an array of conditions. Unlike acupuncture, which uses very fine needles, acupressure simply uses physical pressure applied to specific points on the body. This recent study looked at the "HT7" point in particular, which is located on your wrist.
For some insomniacs, trouble with sleep can be caused by an underlying medical condition that correlates with another acupressure point on the body. For example, someone whose back pain keeps them up at night may find relief with acupressure at the spot linked to relieving that kind of pain, and so on.
Often, using your pain's associated acupressure points can be even more helpful at alleviating insomnia than focusing only on the acupressure points that are solely for insomnia--which, by the way, go beyond a secret spot on the wrist.
The "Shimien" is famous for its relationship with relieving insomnia (some may call it the "insomnia" point). This acupressure point is located on the bottom of your foot; if you were to draw a line from both of your ankle bones to the sole of your foot, the point is where these lines overlap at the mid-line of the sole (just above the heel of the foot). It's the most tender spot in this area.
But I don't encourage you to try acupressure on yourself. This is where having a qualified acupressure therapist is key.
When you consider all the other drug-free strategies for restful sleep, you'll find that the vast majority of techniques used to support sleep hygiene could be considered "alternative", such as:
And my favorite one of all: quitting all forms of work and stimulating activities within an hour of bedtime and just relaxing. And there's nothing "alternative" about that.
Sweet Dreams,
Michael J. Breus, PhD
The Sleep Doctor™
Follow Dr. Michael J. Breus on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thesleepdoctor
Matthew Edlund, M.D.: The Young and the Rested: Why Kids Need Enough Sleep
Lloyd I. Sederer, MD: When To Consider Acupressure: An M.D.'s Prescription
Dr. Michael J. Breus: Insomniacs: Rock Yourself to Sleep
Insomnia Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention by ...
Insomnia (Chronic and Acute Insomnia) Causes and Symptoms
Insomnia? 42 Simple Tips to Help You Get to Sleep - Insomnia ...
Just listen to specially recorded music and slowly lose your insomnia. Most folks respond after just a few listenings and achieve sound sleep after ten or twenty. Often no need to listen further after that.
http://potentialsunlimited.com/
Look for their Insomnia recording.
I have no connection with the company. Just a satisfied customer. Amazing stuff.
I don't know of anyone who is looking to improve their insomnia.
my mother was a judge and mother of 7 kids and had stress to the max,
she had insomnia, she was always "on guard."
she had a woman come in to massge her, (when we could afford it)
she was from Germany and barely spoke english . i will never forget her name:
Hilda Neederberger.
she had the stongest hands, and in no time at all........my mother would be relaxed and sound asleep..
my mother always said.. Hilda knew the right places..and the right pressure,
and my mom would be able to sleep ..one ..for a month or two, w/o the insomnia..
I am the chemist who could not sleep even with the aid of all that Big Pharma can provide. I finally came to terms with the last of my demons and no longer have a problem sleeping at night.
A microbiologist colleague, who switched to acupuncture, recommended acupressure about three years ago. And the anesthetic used during my gastroenterologist's search for polyps certainly did the trick.
Sleep deprivation is a serious problem. Physicians need to seek better therapies than relying on their power to prescribe and the benevolence of the pharmaceutical companies. Here is an idea: Why not use certain foods containing narcotic ingredients to induce sleep? Again, I repeat the quote from that ancient of all physicians, "Let food be thy medicine."
Sleep well!