Primary insomnia
While additional research is required, there is some evidence that acupuncture may benefit those who experience insomnia that cannot be attributed to a particular reason.
It helps many of Stanton’s patients who suffer from insomnia.
In a small 2017 trial, 72 individuals with primary insomnia received either conventional acupuncture or sham acupuncture, in which the needles are not put as deeply. For four weeks, participants received treatment three times a week.
Researchers discovered that acupuncture was more successful in treating insomnia by enhancing sleep quality, quantity, and symptoms. Two and four weeks following therapy, people’s sleep awakenings and self-rated anxiety both dramatically decreased.
Traditional acupuncture was shown to be more effective than sham acupuncture or the sedative drug estazolam at improving sleep quality and daytime functioning, according to a 2013 double-blind trial of 180 people with primary insomnia.