Acupressure for Insomnia

July 23, 2004

Perimenopause

Keep it SIMPLE Tip:

Acupressure for Insomnia

Getting a good night’s sleep is a major issue

for millions of women during perimenopause, after menopause, and

in their older years. One of the major culprits is hot flashes:

sudden and intense episodes of warmth that women experience around

the time of menopause. When hot flashes recur during the night,

sleep is often disturbed. Many women wake up from a sound sleep,

sweaty, hot, and unable to go back to sleep.

Sleep deprivation takes a heavy toll. Without

enough restful sleep, a woman feels like she’s dragging through

the day. She’s less sharp mentally, less productive, and more vulnerable—both

emotionally and physically. Over time, insufficient sleep can weaken

a woman’s immune function and make her more susceptible to illness.

If you’re having trouble falling asleep,

wake frequently once you fall asleep, or wake up earlier than you

want to, try using acupressure to relieve insomnia. Acupressure

is based on the traditional Oriental belief that the body contains

a life energy (the Chinese call it chi). This energy runs

through the body in channels called meridians. When this energy

isn’t flowing properly, disease occurs; when normal energy flow

is restored, the body is able to heal itself.

Acupressure is closely related to acupuncture.

Both are used to restore the proper flow of chi. But unlike

acupuncture, which requires needles and can only be done by a trained

practitioner, acupressure uses the application of gentle finger

pressure to specific points on the skin, and you can do it yourself.

The two acupressure points traditionally

used to relieve insomnia are the Spirit Gate and the Inner Gate.

Both are located on the inner wrist, so you can easily reach them

yourself. The Inner Gate is located in the middle of the inner side

of the forearm, two and one-half finger widths from the wrist crease.

The Spirit Gate is located on the inside of the wrist crease, in

line with the little finger. Pressure on these points helps balance

and calm the heart, alleviate anxiety, and promote sound sleep.

Start by applying pressure to one point and then the other. You’ll

soon learn whether you get the most benefit from pressing both points

or only one.

Applying pressure to these points while you’re

asleep can also help assure restorative, uninterrupted sleep. In

the United Kingdom, pharmacists sell an anti-insomnia kit: a disposable

cone that is fixed to the correct acupressure point on the wrist,

and can be worn all night. You can make your own kit by simply taping

a dry bean—like a kidney bean or pinto bean—to the point

you want to stimulate.

Read More on Perimenopause:

Getting Started

Quiz: Is it Menopause or Perimenopause

Undoing Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen and Progesterone Are Normally

Balanced

Checklist for Estrogen Dominance

Keep it SIMPLE Tip — Acupressure for Insomnia

Nutritional Therapies

Diet for Combating Estrogen Dominance

Nutritional Supplements for Estrogen

Dominance

Nutritional Supplements to Promote Progesterone

Production

Other Power Supplements for Perimenopause

Complementary Therapies

The Pump