It is common in our day, about 32 million suffer from some form of it. Here are some things you need to know about how acupuncture can help insomnia.

The Problems Created By long-lasting Insomnia

Most people's bouts with insomnia does not usually last more than three weeks. When it is this short it usually does not affect that much, except to cause the individual to be continuously tired and a little mentally sluggish for the duration.

Chronic insomnia, however, can last over several years, and, with the increased time, the symptoms get worse. In general, they become a real risk to themselves and to those around them. They become an accident waiting to happen. Here are a few of the symptoms:

? Constant tiredness
? Not able to focus for any period of time
? May fall asleep while performing daily duties
? May be moody, or depressed
? Leads to lower level of immunity

The Causes of Insomnia

The primary cause is problems with either relationships or circumstances. This applies mostly to the more short-lived variety. Usually, when the problem is settled, the insomnia is gone.

When it comes to chronic insomnia, though, the causes may be much different. Here are a few of the causes for chronic insomnia:

? Too much caffeine
? Stress
? Psychiatric conditions
? Medical Conditions or Their Treatments

How Acupuncture Can Help

Among a number of things that has been proven to be a source of help, acupuncture is one of them. Having been used in China for over 2,000 years, acupuncture has long been used for medicinal purposes.

Its practice was made official in the United States, when it was approved in 1996, by the Food and Drug Administration. As early as 2002, it was reported that about 8.2 million people in the US had received acupuncture treatment for some illness, or other need.

Its Success Rate

While it may be a little hard to discern the success rate, some are saying that acupuncture has about a 90% rate of success for those with insomnia. Others report different findings, but overall it has helped many.

How It Works

Acupuncture uses tiny needles that are applied to certain of the body's meridian points. This, according to Chinese medicine, affects the flow of "Chi," which then helps the body to bring healing to itself.

According to the philosophy of the acupuncturist, pain (or other symptoms) indicates a blockage in the flow of chi to the various parts of the body. The treatments of acupuncture restore the flow of this energy, and bring a restoration of health.

The Office Visit

Before anything else is done, the acupuncturist does an examination - largely through questions. Then he, or she will study your face and wrist, in order to determine blockage of chi. For insomnia, the visits are commonly about three times a week, for five to six weeks.

Acupressure May Also Be Helpful

The acupuncturist knows the points of application for your specific treatment. The application of pressure to some of those same points may also be helpful, too.