Expert: R. Scott Malone L.Ac. - 4/14/2010

Question
Hello Scott ~

Would acupuncture be an appropriate treatment for insomnia?

To provide you with the medical background:  my gyn agrees the insomnia could be hormonal due to my probably becoming peri-menopausal (I am in my mid-50s).  However, because I have small uterine fibroids, it is not a good idea for me to take supplemental hormones (which could increase fibroid growth). I was taking 5HTP (suggested by my primary care physician), but now have gastritis (with no h.pylori bacterium) so my primary care dr advised I discontinue those supplements incase they may add to the stomach inflammation.

Your insight would be appreciated.

Best regards and thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Answer
Hey Kate,

In my experience insomnia comes in two basic flavors, inability to get to sleep, and inability to stay asleep. While there are variations on the themes, the most basic and common reasons are, what we call spleen qi deficiency and yin deficiency.

QI is what we call the body energy.
If you have trouble getting to sleep because the mind is racing, this is classic spleen qi def.

Most likely in your peri-menopausal case, it's what is know as yin or fluid deficiency in the body. This dryness happens around menopeuse. It lends itself to night heat, then sweats, hot flashes and the inability to stay asleep. Often both are a problem simultaneously.

Nobody treats this better. For night sweats and having trouble staying asleep, Si wu tang is a super formula, and for trouble getting to sleep caused by qi deficiency, si jun zi tang is a great herbal formula.
If you have both, the basic formula includes both and is called Ba Zhen Tang.

Acupuncture, but in this case more importantly, herbal medicine can offer you great relief.
Both are very helpful in correcting the imbalance that cause fibroids as well.
Fill out a thorough intake and you can shed most if not all of these problems with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine will serve you and your conditions very well.

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Be well,

R. Scott Malone L.Ac.