The All-Natural Treatment I Always Recommend For Insomnia: A Doctor Explains

Acupuncture may not seem like an obvious choice to keep you from tossing and turning at night. Sticking needles into your skin seems like a surefire way to wake you up, not put you to sleep.

However, there is strong clinical evidence that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for insomnia.

Acupuncture activates your parasympathetic system, or the "rest and digest" part of our nervous system. The more your body is able to slip into this relaxation state, the faster you can fall asleep when you hit the pillow. (Ideally you should be asleep within 20 minutes of lying down in bed.)

Your acupuncturist will be placing needles in specific points along meridians, or channels running through your body. There are 12 meridians named after specific organs, but they do not necessarily have a direct correlation with how we define those organs in conventional medicine.

While some people see results right away, it may take up to six sessions to see improvement, as acupuncture has a cumulative effect.