i get asked pretty frequently about alternative therapies to treat sleep problems. while drugs do have their place in treating some types of sleep disorders there's something to be said for the array of so-called alternative methods that don't entail pharmaceuticals but do in fact support restful sleep. acupuncture for example has been used to treat insomnia for centuries in china and clinical studies have shown that acupuncture may have a beneficial effect on insomnia compared with western medication. and for those who need more solid proof a recent study just confirmed this finding again. acupressure which is based on acupuncture but does not entail needles (instead physical pressure is applied to the acupuncture points) also has shown promise in helping people beat insomnia. and another recent study confirmed this when it looked at the sleep-friendly effects that acupressure had on people who live in long-term care facilities. acupressure on the ht7 point (a particular point on the body) may improve insomnia for up to two weeks after the intervention.
can acupuncture and acupressure help you sleep?