Insomnia is a sleep disorder and is a condition marked as problems getting to sleep (sleep onset) and staying asleep (sleep maintenance) or early wakening lasting for a considerable period of time (WHO 2007).
Common causes of insomnia include stress, irregular sleep patterns, poor sleeping habits, anxiety and depression, physical illnesses and pain. Insomnia can be short-term and happens over a brief period of time whilst chronic insomnia can last for months or more. Poor sleep can trigger or worsen other health conditions.
Research has revealed that acupuncture treatment may help by increasing cerebral blood flow (Yan 2010), regulating the amounts of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine - altering the brain's mood chemistry to help to enhance relaxation and lower tension (Lee 2009) and increases nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretion (Spence 2004).
Acupuncture can also be used alongside conventional medical treatments such as benzodiazepines to help reduce their side effects and enhance their beneficial effects (Cao 2009).