Acupuncture for Insomnia: Everything You Need to Know

Updated November 22, 2023

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Table of Contents

Is Acupuncture an Effective Treatment for Insomnia?
How Acupuncture for Insomnia Works
What to Know Before Trying Acupuncture
Additional Treatments for Insomnia
Our Best Tips for Better Sleep

Acupuncture is one of the world’s oldest medical practices and is used today to treat a variety of physical and mental health conditions. In recent years, acupuncture has become an increasingly popular treatment for insomnia as more people look for alternatives to traditional sleep medications.

Is Acupuncture an Effective Treatment for Insomnia?

Acupuncture can relieve insomnia symptoms, Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source although the mechanisms behind its effects are not fully understood. For some people with insomnia, receiving regular acupuncture treatments for one to two months can:

Improve sleep quality Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source
Reduce wakings in the night Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source
Increase total sleep time
Decrease anxiety
Alleviate pain Trusted Source National Cancer Institute (NCI) The NCI is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. View Source

People whose insomnia is linked to depression, Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source menopause, or chronic pain may be especially good candidates for acupuncture therapy.

“Acupuncture can be a great complementary treatment and many patients find it helpful.”

Dr. Dustin Cotliar

Sleep Medicine Physician, MD

How Acupuncture for Insomnia Works

In a typical acupuncture session, the practitioner will evaluate the patient and insert between five and 20 needles, leaving each in place for about 10 to 15 minutes. However, one patient with insomnia may receive an entirely different acupuncture treatment than another, and the same patient may receive different treatments from session to session.

This is because acupuncturists base their selection of acupoints on their assessment of how energy, or “qi,” is flowing through pathways called “meridians” within the body. Acupuncture is intended to resolve blockages, disruptions, and imbalances in energy flow, thereby addressing complaints such as pain or difficulty sleeping.

What to Know Before Trying Acupuncture

Acupuncture is generally considered safe, and major complications are very unlikely. As with any procedure involving needles and sharp instruments, acupuncture poses a risk of infection, skin irritation, and disease transmission. U.S. regulations require the use of sterile needles, which significantly reduces these risks. Bleeding and pain can also occur, but they are rare side effects of acupuncture.

People who are pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, or are on blood thinners should inform their acupuncturists about their conditions before receiving treatment. People with pacemakers should not receive electroacupuncture, and people who are immunocompromised should avoid acupuncture.

Additional Treatments for Insomnia

While acupuncture is a safe and drug-free treatment for insomnia, it is just one of several available approaches to reducing symptoms and improving sleep. People with insomnia should talk to their doctors or sleep specialists about which treatment—or combination of treatments—best suits their needs. These treatments include:

Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)
Sleep medications
Homeopathic treatments, like melatonin, yoga, or aromatherapy
Lifestyle changes

Our Best Tips for Better Sleep

Maintaining healthy sleep habits along with or after insomnia treatment is essential in helping prevent insomnia symptoms from returning. These include:

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule – even on weekends
Having an optimal bedroom environment for sleep
Getting at least 30 minutes of natural light each morning
Avoiding caffeine after 2 p.m.
Avoiding alcohol at least 4 hours before bed

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Written By

Lucy Bryan, Contributing Writer

Lucy Bryan is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience in higher education. She holds a B. A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Penn State University.

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Dustin Cotliar, Sleep Medicine Physician MD

Dustin Cotliar holds a medical degree from the State University of NY (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine, and a master’s in public health from Columbia University, where he focused on healthcare policy and management. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, with over eight years of practice that includes emergency medicine, urgent care, and telemedicine.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References
5 Sources

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https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-the-clinical-uses-of-acupuncture
Li, S., Wang, Z., Wu, H., Yue, H., Yin, P., Zhang, W., Lao, L., Mi, Y., & Xu, S. (2020). Electroacupuncture versus Sham Acupuncture for Perimenopausal Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Nature and science of sleep, 12, 1201–1213.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33376432/
Yin, X., Gou, M., Xu, J., Dong, B., Yin, P., Masquelin, F., Wu, J., Lao, L., & Xu, S. (2017). Efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment on primary insomnia: a randomized controlled trial. Sleep medicine, 37, 193–200.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28899535/
PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. PDQ Acupuncture. National Cancer Institute., Retrieved November 21, 2023, from
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/acupuncture-pdq
Yin, X., Li, W., Liang, T., Lu, B., Yue, H., Li, S., Zhong, V. W., Zhang, W., Li, X., Zhou, S., Mi, Y., Wu, H., & Xu, S. (2022). Effect of Electroacupuncture on Insomnia in Patients With Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open, 5(7), e2220563.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35797047/