Hello everyone. Today we’re going to talk about acupressure and insomnia. Insomnia is a very common sleep disorder. If it lasts from three nights to a week, this is called acute insomnia. Or, it can last from three nights in a week to three months or more, which is called chronic insomnia.
Some people feel the insomnia coming and going. There are many different types: many people have difficulty falling asleep, some people wake up often at night with dream disturbed insomnia; or people wake up very early in the morning and cannot fall back to sleep; this is different kinds of insomnia.
Today we are going to show you a few acupressure points that can help you fall back to sleep. One of the points is in our hand. Follow the thumb then you feel the dip, if you move your thumb out and in, you will feel that hole in that area, that point is Lung 9. People who wake up early in the morning and cannot fall back to sleep, this is the great point to press. Press for 20-30 seconds in circular motion, 2-3 times in a day.
The next point is across the wrist line exactly on the other side of the wrist, this point is Heart 7. This is a point for the sleep disorder because it nourishes the blood, calms the mind from agitation and fear, and it releases the palpitation and stress. Again press a in circular motion for 30-60 seconds, 2-3 times a day.
The next point is in the midline of the wrist crease, if you bend your hand forward you see these two tendons, three finger breadths and the point is in between these two tendons. You press it in circular motion to calm anxiety, deal with the emotions, stress, and fear; these are the causes for your insomnia.
Next point is behind your earlobe. Behind the earlobe you have a dip, if you go towards your skull you will fall in another dip, and that is the great point to press because it’s called in Chinese medicine, the insomnia point. Often you will feel this point is very tender when you are having sleeping disorders. This point is for insomnia of any kind, it releases your mind from stress and anxiety.
There is one more point in the back of the skull, this is called GB 20. This point relaxes your neck and shoulder tension. Many times insomnia can be because of your pillow or posture during sleep. This point helps you with neck pain or shoulder pain so that you can relax and sleep properly.
All these points can be used for 30-60 seconds, 2-3 times a day. While doing these points, relax, calm yourself down, and take a deep breath. Many times the causes for insomnia are worry, anger, medication, stress, irregular diet, irregular sleep patterns, childbirth, or alcohol and caffeine. In today's world with all that we are going through, all this can definitely cause insomnia in your life. Use these points to help sleep better. If you have any questions, or if you would like to try some of the acupuncture treatments for insomnia, feel free to contact Life Chiropractic & Acupuncture.
