What more effective against insomnia: acupuncture or drugs?

More and more people suffer from insomnia. Many of them then start to use medicines. But acupuncture can eliminate sleep problems better and gentler.

It is estimated that 20 to 30 percent of the population suffer from insomnia – the number of sufferers is increasing. In most cases, initiating sleep problems caused by acute periods of stress and disappear on its own. But sometimes the sleep problems become constant.

Instead of resorting to sleeping pills, which usually represents the worst alternative, you can try also acupuncture. Already previous studies have shown that acupuncture can also help with long-lasting sleep. A recent Chinese study has confirmed this. Thus acupuncture more effective for insomnia than Estazolam, a drug from class of benzodiazepines.

Acupuncture is stronger than benzodiazepines.

For the study 180 patients with insomnia were treated with acupuncture and placebo medication, with an incorrect acupuncture (sham acupuncture) and estazolam or with sham acupuncture and placebo. Although in all three groups was shown a significant improvement quality of sleep, but in the group with the right acupuncture were the improvement in sleep quality and motility during the day.

Anyone who suffers from insomnia for a long time should first clarify the causes of insomnia. Sleep disorders can be triggered by various factors. These include:

• Noise, bright light or high temperature in the bedroom
• Psychological factors (stress, anxiety, burnout, general nervousness)
• Lifestyle habits (eating too late, too much alcohol, tea or coffee in the evening, smoking)
• Diseases (eg depression, gastrointestinal disorders, restless legs syndrome, snoring, sleep apnea)
• Other causes, such as adverse reactions to drugs.

Only when the causes have been clarified and confounding factors were eliminated as far as possible, you can start a treatment of sleep disorders.