Case Study: Treating Chronic Insomnia With Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

A lifelong struggle with sleep

This patient, a man in his late 20s, came to the clinic seeking help for chronic insomnia.

This wasn’t a recent issue. He could remember struggling to sleep as early as three years old. For as long as he could remember, sleep had felt light, broken, and unreliable.

By the time he came for treatment, insomnia was a daily, constant problem.

No matter how tired he felt, his body struggled to settle between 10pm and 6am. He was often awake for long stretches of the night, regardless of how much—or how little—sleep he’d had before.

How chronic insomnia was affecting his health

As is often the case with long-term sleep problems, insomnia was only part of the picture.

He also experienced:

Waking unrefreshed, even after hours in bed
Persistent fatigue, especially in the afternoons
Low energy and low sex drive
Low mood, worry, and symptoms of depression
Lethargy and difficulty focusing
Chronic eczema affecting the face and arms

He had previously tried other natural approaches, including naturopathy and homeopathy, but these brought only temporary and minimal improvements.

Treatment approach: acupuncture and herbs

We began a course of regular acupuncture, alongside a bespoke herbal prescription, taken twice daily.

The focus of treatment was to:

Calm and regulate the nervous system
Support deeper, more consistent sleep
Improve daytime energy and mood
Address the underlying patterns contributing to both insomnia and eczema

Early improvements

By session three, meaningful changes had already begun.

He reported:

Sleeping for longer stretches at night
Falling asleep more easily
A noticeable lift in mood
Reduced itching and visible improvement in his skin

With improved sleep and energy, he felt able to take positive steps outside the clinic and signed up for coaching to support broader changes in his life.

Ongoing progress over the course of treatment

As treatment continued, his sleep became steadier and more predictable.

By session seven:

It typically took 20–40 minutes to fall asleep
Night waking still occurred, but he could usually fall back asleep
Severe episodes of insomnia no longer lasted for days or weeks
Mornings felt easier, even if some tiredness remained
His eczema continued to improve, particularly with dietary adjustments and ongoing acupuncture.

By session eight:

He was no longer waking during the night
Sleep difficulties were limited to specific days rather than every night
Skin inflammation and itching had reduced by around 30%
Heat and sweating were identified as triggers, giving him greater awareness of how to manage flare-ups

Results after 8 acupuncture sessions

While chronic insomnia rarely resolves overnight, the shift was significant:

From lifelong, constant insomnia → more consistent, restorative sleep
From frequent night waking → sleeping through the night
From daily exhaustion → greater emotional resilience and energy
From persistent eczema flare-ups → clear and measurable skin improvement

Just as importantly, he felt more connected to his body and better equipped to manage his health moving forward.

Treating long-term insomnia naturally

Chronic insomnia—especially when it begins in childhood—often reflects long-standing patterns in the nervous system. With the right support, those patterns can change.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine offer a gentle yet effective approach for people who have struggled with sleep for years and feel they’ve tried everything.

If you’re struggling with long-term insomnia, broken sleep, or waking feeling exhausted despite doing “all the right things,” acupuncture may help.

👉 Book an appointment or get in touch to discuss whether acupuncture and herbal medicine could support your sleep.

You don’t have to accept poor sleep as your normal.

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