Why does acupuncture make you sleepy

Scott Weiss, a doctor of physical therapy and exercise physiologist, works with acupuncturists at his Manhattan sports medicine clinic, Bodhizone.

OK, some people say it doesn't do anything, while others totally swear by it. And even if it isn't effective in and of itself, faith and the placebo effect might be enough to make you feel better anyway. Is it worth trying, then? In , the International Journal of Obesity stepped back and took a look at the body of evidence regarding the use of acupuncture to help lose weight.

The results, they found, were mixed at best. Some research found that yes, treatment specifically, when needling the ear did help patients lose weight—but often in conjunction with traditional weight-loss methods, like exercise and a clean diet.

Alternatively, some research found that it was merely the mental effect of acupuncture more on your mood and needles below which caused patients to feel better and thus lose weight. Research backs me up: In a systematized review of 41 trials , acupuncture was shown to relieve insomnia just as effectively as Western medical treatments think: Ambien. And as someone who has taken Ambien and done acupuncture, I can attest to the fact that both will help you snooze, but acupuncture works every time.

In , a study published in Health Technology Assessment confirmed that for any type of non-specific lower-back pain that is, not because of a herniated disc or other diagnosable problem , not only did acupuncture relieve just as much pain as traditional primary doctor treatment did in a one-year window, but after two years, acupuncture was a far more effective means of pain reduction. This association was especially strong as it relates to cancer , as published in Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Additionally, another study published that same year confirmed that regular acupuncture was effective in preventing nearly 50 percent of migraines. This dilation helps relieve the blood flow change in the brain, which is what is considered to be the root cause of various headaches and migraines.

A study published in confirmed that acupuncture helped improve heartburn more than medicine did on its own, suggesting that the two therapies in tandem work best. Dry needling is a modern treatment designed to ease muscular pain.

Acupuncture has been used for a number of conditions for thousands of years. In Eastern medicine, qi is a life force present in everything. What are the symptoms of qi deficiency, and how is it treated? Moxibustion is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that involves burning mugwort leaves over specific body parts.

Learn how yin tang acupuncture works, what the research says about its efficacy, and what to expect from this traditional Chinese medicinal method. In a recent study, participants reported that acupuncture helped relieve discomfort from the common form of indigestion known as postprandial distress…. Experts say acupuncture and acupressure can reduce the amount of opioids that people with cancer take. Ear acupuncture has a range of purported health benefits.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Will It Hurt? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Acupuncture can also be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including: allergies anxiety and depression chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting dental pain headaches and migraines high blood pressure insomnia labor pain menstrual cramps and PMS neck pain osteoarthritis respiratory disorders.

Does it hurt? How long does treatment last? Care following appointment. Who can perform acupuncture? The takeaway. Read this next. Is Acupuncture the Miracle Remedy for Everything?

People can feel tired after acupuncture. A more common result is increased energy. The fatigue after acupuncture is your body telling you that it's depleted. Feeling fatigued after acupuncture is not cause for concern, but it is a warning sign that you need to rest Body parts where acupuncture needles get inserted can feel sore after needles are removed.

Soreness from acupuncture typically dissipates within 24 hours. Although less common than soreness, bruising can occur at the needling site.

These bruises usually don't hurt and last a few days after the treatment. There is no treatment necessary and they will dissipate on their own. People may experience involuntary muscle twitching during or after acupuncture. This is no cause for concern - it generally only happens once and is over before you can summon the acupuncturist.

Rarely, post-acupuncture lightheadedness can result in fainting. Getting up too quickly from the acupuncture table can cause lightheadedness, as can arriving for an acupuncture treatment on an empty stomach. Remember that eating is one of the key things to remember before an acupuncture appointment. But, after my session I started to feel extremely sleepy. Is it normal or is something wrong? Acupuncture is using your own energy to fix your problem. More needle more sleepy. After acupuncture sessions, it's normal to feel very sleepy, because the sleeping is probably a natural result of the rebalancing of the electrical energies along the meridians of your body.

Expert Answers Why is my daughter having irregular periods? Have a question about PCOD? Ask a doctor now. Totally normal. Your body is doing a lot of work during acupuncture, so it's a good sign that your body was busy healing. It is normal. Hui Grace Gao LAc. I often tell my patients that acupuncture reminds us of what is really going on.

People who tend to push through and go until they crash will come in pumped on adrenaline and leave aware of how tired they actually are. Conversely, those who are stuck, frustrated and can't get motivated, may leave feeling energized and ready go after treatment. Sometimes, when the body restores its own balance, you might feel more sleepy. I would recommend more rest if you feel sleepy. What is possible then acupuncture points for sedation are used.

This can be a normal response. I would discuss this with your acupuncturist. Anthony James Lorenzo Acupuncturist. The act of moving something, just as one would realize logically, is slightly draining, as it uses some energy. Too much movement in a person already drained can cause even greater fatigue. However, I don't know the specifics about you. Are you sleeping 8 hours a night? Are you engaging in routine activities to mitigate your exposure to stress like meditation?

If you aren't getting adequate sleep and your system is run down, then I wouldn't be surprised at all if you got tired after a treatment. Listen to your body. Take a nap. It is normal since acupuncture is stimulating your body to fight the problem you had.

After acupuncture treatment, your body is using energy to fight, and certainly you feel tired and sleepy. This is a normal side effect of acupuncture. Sometimes, when I see that happen in my office, I try to dial back a little on the intensity of treatment so that it does not deplete my patients' energy as much. I try to have them stay as functional as possible.

However, your body may need to feel that way until the cycle reverses. Meaning, you will ultimately get to a point where you get more energy after treatments!

Hi, it is normal to feel relaxed and sometimes sleep, if you are feeling extremely sleepy be sure to let your acupuncturist know : There is nothing wrong :.

Neilly A. Good day, Thanks for your question. If this occurs specifically only after acupuncture, yes, this can be a result of acupuncture for a number of reasons, the simplest being that you are more relaxed. Discuss with your provider, though, as they may need to adjust your sessions so that you are alert for driving if you drive after.