Insomnia according to Traditional Chinese Medicine: causes and treatment

Sleeping well is not a luxury; it is a fundamental biological necessity. During sleep, the body repairs itself, the brain consolidates memories, the immune system strengthens, and hormones are regulated.

Yet, according to the Royal Academy of Medicine of Spain, nearly 40% of the Spanish population experiences occasional sleep problems. In Barcelona, the pace of urban life doesn’t help. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a unique perspective on insomnia—and acupuncture might be the tool you need.

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How does acupuncture work for insomnia?

In TCM, sleep depends on the Shen (spirit). The Shen resides in the Heart during the day and descends to the Liver at night to allow for sleep. If the Shen cannot rest, there is no sleep.

The Shen needs two things to rest well: sufficient Yin (the nourishing and calming aspect of the organs) and unobstructed Qi flow.

Acupuncture acts on several levels simultaneously: it regulates the nervous system (calming the sympathetic system and activating the parasympathetic), tonifies Yin and calms the Shen, and reduces nighttime anxiety.

Main causes of insomnia according to TCM

causas del insomnio según la medicina tradicional china

Heart Yin Deficiency — frequent waking, night sweats
Heart Fire — difficulty falling asleep, intense dreams, irritability
Liver Qi Stagnation — difficulty falling asleep, tension
Spleen Qi Deficiency — heavy but unrefreshing sleep
Shen Imbalance — nighttime anxiety, racing mind

Types of insomnia and their management

<b>Sleep-onset insomnia:</b> inability to fall asleep; the mind won't stop racing. Likely pattern: Heart Fire or Heart Yin deficiency. Approach: Calm the Heart, nourish Yin.

Sleep-onset insomnia: inability to fall asleep; the mind won't stop racing. Likely pattern: Heart Fire or Heart Yin deficiency. Approach: Calm the Heart, nourish Yin.

<b>Terminal insomnia:</b> you wake up very early and cannot fall back asleep. Probable pattern: Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency. Approach: Nourish Yin, anchor floating Yang.

Terminal insomnia: you wake up very early and cannot fall back asleep. Probable pattern: Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency. Approach: Nourish Yin, anchor floating Yang.

<b>Fragmented sleep:</b> You wake up frequently during the night. Likely pattern: Spleen Qi deficiency or stagnation with heat. Approach: Strengthen the Spleen, move Qi, clear heat.

Fragmented sleep: You wake up frequently during the night. Likely pattern: Spleen Qi deficiency or stagnation with heat. Approach: Strengthen the Spleen, move Qi, clear heat.

<b>Non-restorative sleep:</b> you sleep but do not feel rested; fatigue throughout the day. Likely pattern: Qi and Blood deficiency. Approach: Tonify and nourish.

Non-restorative sleep: you sleep but do not feel rested; fatigue throughout the day. Likely pattern: Qi and Blood deficiency. Approach: Tonify and nourish.

Which points are used for insomnia?

qué puntos se utilizan para el estrés y el insomnio en acupuntura

C7 (Shenmen) — Wrist, radial crease. “Gate of Shen” — directly calms the spirit.
PC6 (Neiguan) — Wrist, 2 cun from the crease. Calms the mind, reduces nighttime anxiety.
Anmian — Behind the ear. Empirical point specifically for insomnia.
Du20 (Baihui) — Crown of the head. Anchors the Shen, calms an overactive mind.
Yintang — Between the eyebrows. Reduces mental chatter.
Liv3 (Taichong) — Foot, between the 1st and 2nd toes. Moves Liver Qi, releases tension.
Kid6 (Zhaohai) — Foot, below the inner ankle. Nourishes Kidney Yin, calms the Heart.
Sp6 (Sanyinjiao) — Leg, 3 cun above the inner ankle. Nourishes general Yin, calms the Shen.

How can acupuncture help with insomnia?

Regaining your sleep is a gradual process. As a regulatory therapy, acupuncture works cumulatively. The journey toward better rest is divided into three phases:

Adaptation phase (Weeks 1–2): The nervous system begins to recalibrate, and the first signs of relaxation appear.

Progress phase (Weeks 3–4): Resistance to falling asleep decreases, and nighttime awakenings are reduced.

Consolidation phase (Weeks 5–8): The body integrates this balanced rhythm as its new, natural habit.

To achieve this, we plan a standard protocol of 8 to 16 sessions (starting with 2 or 3 per week). For deeper imbalances, the prescription of Chinese herbal medicine serves as the perfect complement to solidify your well-being.

What to expect from a session?

At Kan & Li, we perform a comprehensive diagnosis before any treatment. During the first session, we listen to your history, take your pulse, and examine your tongue to identify your pattern of imbalance. We select specific acupuncture points tailored to your case and allow you to rest for 20–30 minutes with the needles in place.

Most people notice some relief from the very first session, although the cumulative effect is more powerful. A typical course of treatment consists of 6 to 10 sessions.