Can Acupuncture Improve Sleep? What the Research Says
Struggling with sleep? Acupuncture may offer a natural, evidence-backed way to improve your rest—without medication.
If you’re among the 1 in 3 Americans who aren’t getting enough sleep, you’re not alone. Insomnia, frequent waking, or poor sleep quality can affect everything from mood and memory to immune function and pain sensitivity.
At Metro Wellness NYC, we see patients every week who are stressed, exhausted, and desperate for better sleep. What many don’t realize is that acupuncture may help regulate the nervous system, calm the mind, and promote deeper, more restorative rest.
Let’s dive into how it works—and what the research says.
🧠 How Acupuncture May Help Sleep
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, sleep issues can stem from imbalances in the Heart, Liver, or Kidney meridians, often linked to stress, hormonal shifts, or disrupted energy flow ("Qi"). Acupuncture aims to restore harmony.
From a biomedical view, acupuncture can help sleep by:
Regulating melatonin: Some studies show acupuncture may increase nighttime melatonin production, a key hormone for sleep onset.
Activating the parasympathetic nervous system: Known as the “rest and digest” mode, this calms your body and lowers cortisol and heart rate.
Reducing hyperarousal: Insomnia is often tied to sympathetic overdrive (think racing thoughts, shallow breathing, tense muscles). Acupuncture can help reset this.
👩⚕️ Meet Dr. Jessie Gao, DACM, LAc
At Metro Wellness NYC, our acupuncture care is led by Dr. Jessie Gao, a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM). With over a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Jessie blends modern research with classical Chinese techniques to create personalized treatment plans for insomnia, stress, anxiety, and hormonal imbalances.
Her calm, thoughtful approach helps patients feel at ease—even those new to acupuncture or afraid of needles. Many of her patients have reported noticeable improvements in sleep, energy, and mood after just a few sessions.
“Acupuncture doesn’t just help you fall asleep—it helps you stay asleep and wake up feeling refreshed,” says Dr. Jessie. “We’re not masking symptoms; we’re helping your body return to balance.”
📚 What the Research Shows
Several clinical studies support acupuncture’s role in treating sleep disorders:
A 2013 meta-analysis in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that acupuncture was more effective than no treatment and comparable to medications in improving sleep quality.
A 2017 randomized controlled trial in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that acupuncture improved both sleep duration and efficiency in patients with chronic insomnia.
A 2022 study in Frontiers in Neurology demonstrated that acupuncture modulates brain activity associated with sleep-wake cycles and stress regulation.
Bottom line: Acupuncture is not just placebo—it creates measurable physiological changes that support healthy sleep.
🌙 Common Sleep Conditions Acupuncture May Help
Chronic insomnia
Night waking or trouble staying asleep
Stress-induced poor sleep
Menopausal sleep disturbances
Jet lag or shift work sleep issues
🛌 What to Expect During Your Visit
Your first visit with Dr. Jessie Gao includes a detailed intake covering your sleep history, stress levels, digestion, hormones, and overall energy. She’ll then select acupuncture points tailored to your specific imbalance—whether it’s overactive stress pathways, hormonal fluctuation, or digestive weakness.
Treatment may include:
Hair-thin needles at calming points (like Shenmen, Heart 7, Yin Tang)
Ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) to reset the nervous system
Breathing or sleep hygiene recommendations
Optional herbal support to nourish underlying deficiencies
🌿 Natural, Safe, and Drug-Free
Unlike sleep medications, acupuncture doesn't cause dependency, grogginess, or rebound insomnia. It's also safe to combine with therapy, supplements, and other wellness treatments offered at Metro Wellness NYC.
🗽 Sleep Better with Acupuncture at Metro Wellness NYC
If poor sleep is affecting your energy, mood, or health, you don’t have to settle for a lifetime of tossing and turning. At Metro Wellness NYC, Dr. Jessie Gao offers gentle, holistic care backed by science and thousands of years of tradition.
📍 Located in Midtown Manhattan at 64 W 48th St, Suite 608
📞 Call: 212-202-0065
📲 Text: 917-382-0980
📧 Email: info@metrowellnessnyc.com
We’re here to help you rest deeply—naturally.
🧾 References
Cheuk DK, Yeung WF, Chung KF, Wong V. Acupuncture for insomnia. Sleep Med Rev. 2012.
Huang W, Kutner N, Bliwise DL. Autonomic activation in insomnia: The case for acupuncture. J Altern Complement Med. 2017.
Feng Y, Bai L, Ren Y, et al. The central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for primary insomnia: A resting-state fMRI study. Front Neurol. 2022.
