To sleep, perchance to dream: Acupuncture success for Toyah Willcox
Although Shakespeare was referring to death in his famous quote, that something may come from nothingness, sleep is very much an active time for the body; the brain carries out its ‘housekeeping’ or repairing of the body when our digestion and muscles are not diverting our energy. So for people experiencing sleep problems this takes both a physical and mental toll. Acupuncture Awareness Week this year aims to inform people how traditional acupuncture can help improve sleep and aid relaxation. As readers of my newsletter you have most likely experienced acupuncture and for many, you may have slept during the treatment and most will have felt very relaxed afterwards. The feedback “I had the most amazing sleep after my session” is not uncommon. Some acupuncture points are particularly known for their calming effects and after activation, one client sleepily said “I feel as if I’m going under a sedative – I just can’t keep my eyes open”. These effects can last for hours or days and help you re-establish your sleep routine.
Traditional acupuncture is known to be enormously beneficial for helping to correct sleep problems. It works by calming the nervous system and also increasing endorphin production. These are our ‘feel-good’ chemicals (neurotransmitters) and are chemically very much like morphine.
Ex-punk singer Toyah Willcox is supporting our campaign and tells her story about how acupuncture helped her 40-year insomnia.
Toyah Willcox, like many others, feels that acupuncture has made a huge impact to her life. "Having suffered with chronic insomnia since I was 14, I had to learn to make it work for my lifestyle", says Toyah. "However, I realised I needed to do something about it when I was made aware of the detriment it has on your health and immune system. I won't take sleeping pills and it's actually better not to medicate chronic sufferers of insomnia anyway. I now have regular traditional acupuncture to help let my body heal itself. When I'm having a treatment I fall into a deep sleep straight away, which gives me immediate relief."
Listen to Toyah Willcox talk about her experience of how acupuncture helped her insomnia:To hear others talk about their experience of acupuncture and to find out more:
Introducing Acupuncture
If you have any questions about the newsletter, my therapies or would like to contribute an article, please get in touch at tracey@essentialtherapia.com