It is normal to have trouble sleeping every once in a while, but to go consecutive nights with less than 6-8 hours of sleep is tough on your body. Acupuncture and other treatments are available to help improve the quantity and quality of your sleep.
Sleep Deprivation
Did you know that sleep deprivation is the worst form of torture? Without getting a good night’s rest, your body will start to deteriorate on you rather quickly. Less than seven hours of sleep nightly, your body has no time to restore itself, which is probably why you feel weak and heavy when waking up from a terrible night’s sleep. Not letting your body essentially heal itself leaves you vulnerable to inflammation, a lowered immune system and reduced muscle recovery.
Your body isn’t the only thing that needs to reset overnight. The brain needs time to plump back up, or else brain cell activity decreases, resulting in slower reasoning abilities, worse decision-making skills and a much lower reaction time. The emotional centre of the brain is also affected, becoming more susceptible to negative thoughts and emotions.
A lack of sleep will cause changes in appetite control, which can then alter the amount of hunger and satiety hormones throughout the body. This can cause overeating and unwanted weight gain.
These results in combination can create a lot of stress, which is the number one cause for sleep deprivation. It can turn into a vicious cycle for some, where they are not sleeping well which is causing stress on their body, and the stress is affecting their sleep. The good news is, there are many options to help improve your sleep and break the cycle!
Acupuncture for a Better Nights Sleep
The ancient Chinese technique of acupuncture is used to aid in the healing of many problems, some of which are the result of sleep deprivation. The safe and relaxing treatment of acupuncture performed at clinics like the Dronyk Health Clinic is shown to reduce anxiety and stress in patients. There are specific acupuncture points for improving your sleep, as well as some that have the action to ‘calm the mind’.
The precise placement of needles throughout the body increases melatonin production, the sleep hormone that helps your body fall asleep and stay that way. Low levels of melatonin mean you’re less likely to fall asleep quickly and more likely to wake up throughout the night. Over time and multiple treatments, the total time you spend asleep has been shown to improve.
Alternative Methods to Sleep Better
Every method for a good night’s sleep involves some form of relaxation. Mindfulness meditation is a practice that helps to focus the mind towards present sensations. This means letting go of thoughts and emotions tethered to the past or worries about the future. Stressing about what can’t be changed and what has yet to occur will prevent you from sleeping well. Practicing yoga is another way to reduce stress and relax the body. Yoga also aids in reducing unwanted inflammation.
At the Dronyk Health Clinic, we have a full dispensary of supplements, teas and tinctures, carrying several to help improve your sleep. You may be tested for one of these products to enhance the acupuncture treatments. Total Body Modification, an energy technique practiced at the clinic can address stressors in your body and help to modify them, leading to a better quality of sleep.
Quick Tips to Fall Asleep
- Make sure the room is completely dark, even a night light can affect how quickly you fall asleep.
- Don’t look at any screens after eight in the evening, as the blue light will stimulate your brain into thinking it’s daytime. If this can’t be avoided, switch the device to night mode.
- Have a relaxing night routine. Things like drinking herbal tea, taking a warm bath or meditating will remind your body that it’s time for bed.
At Dronyk Health Clinic, we believe that communication is the key to a successful patient-doctor relationship. When you book a consultation with us, our doctors will collect the necessary information to determine what your overall goal is in coming to us. Once we determine that, we move onto figuring out the best treatment for you. We offer services that include Naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy and more. Call us for more info at 519-894-0024.
