Precautions before and after acupuncture treatment for insomnia

First, precautions before treatment

Physical condition assessment

Avoid fasting or overeating: It is not advisable to fast or overeat within one hour before acupuncture (as it may trigger hypoglycemic reactions) or overeat (affecting the circulation of qi and blood). It is recommended to maintain a moderate sense of fullness.

Emotional stability: Avoid receiving treatment when you are emotionally agitated, anxious or fatigued to prevent fainting from the needle or aggravating your discomfort.

Inform the medical history: It is necessary to provide the doctor with a detailed account of your past medical history (such as heart disease, diabetes, coagulation disorders, etc.), allergy history and current medication use, so as to adjust the treatment plan.

Environmental and hygiene preparation

Choose a legitimate institution: Ensure that the acupuncture site is clean and hygienic, and that the doctors have professional qualifications to avoid infections caused by improper operation.

Wear loose clothing: It is convenient to expose the treated area (such as limbs, abdomen, and back), reducing the feeling of restraint during acupuncture.

Mental preparation

Eliminating Fear: Some patients have a fear of acupuncture. They can communicate with the doctor to understand the treatment process and relax their mindset.

Clarify the treatment goal: Communicate with the doctor about the specific symptoms of insomnia (such as difficulty falling asleep, frequent dreams and easy awakening, etc.) in order to formulate a personalized plan.

Second, precautions during treatment

Coordination during the needling process

Maintain a stable position: After acupuncture, keep your posture still to avoid random movement which may cause the needle to bend, break or cause pain.

Timely feedback on feelings: If you experience sensations such as soreness, numbness, distension, or heaviness during the acupuncture process, which are considered “qi accumulation”, it is a normal phenomenon. However, if you experience severe pain, dizziness, palpitations, or other discomforts, you should inform the doctor immediately.

Avoid interfering factors

Turn off electronic devices: During the treatment period, keep quiet and avoid external disturbances that may affect the therapeutic effect.

Do not adjust by yourself: Do not touch or pull out the needle at will to avoid infection or injury.

Third, precautions after treatment

Pinhole care

Press to stop bleeding: After the needle is removed, use a sterile cotton ball to press the needle hole for 3 to 5 minutes to prevent subcutaneous bleeding or hematoma.

Keep clean: Avoid water contact with the pinhole area within 24 hours to prevent infection.

Life adjustment

Proper rest: Avoid strenuous exercise or excessive fatigue within 30 minutes after treatment. You can rest quietly or lie flat.

Dietary restrictions

Avoid eating spicy, cold and greasy foods to prevent irritation to the spleen and stomach and affect the circulation of qi and blood.

Avoid alcohol and stimulating beverages such as strong tea and coffee to prevent aggravating insomnia.

Keep warm and prevent wind: After acupuncture, the pores are open. It is necessary to avoid exposure to wind or cold to prevent external pathogenic factors from invading.

Observe the reaction

Normal reactions: Some patients may experience local soreness and distension, mild pain or a feeling of drowsiness, which are normal phenomena and usually subside within 1-2 days.

Abnormal reactions: If symptoms such as redness and swelling of the pinhole, increased pain, fever, and dizziness occur, medical attention should be sought promptly.

Follow the doctor’s advice

Regular follow-up visits: Adhere to the treatment course recommended by the doctor (such as 2-3 times a week) and avoid interrupting it halfway.

In combination with other therapies: If the doctor suggests combining traditional Chinese medicine, auricular point pressing or lifestyle adjustments, active cooperation is required.

Fourth, precautions for special groups

Pregnant woman

Avoid needling acupoints such as the abdomen, lumbosacral region, and Hegu and Sanyinjiao that may cause uterine contractions.

Treatment should be carried out with caution under the guidance of a professional physician.

Diabetic patients

After acupuncture, it is necessary to closely observe the healing of the needle holes to prevent infection.

Those with poor blood sugar control need to postpone treatment.

People with coagulation disorders

It is necessary to inform the doctor in advance to avoid needling too deeply or acupoints with a high risk of bleeding.

Fifth, long-term conditioning suggestions

Regular sleep schedule: Maintain a fixed sleep time and avoid staying up late or reversing day and night.

Emotion management: Relieve stress through meditation, deep breathing and other methods to avoid anxiety from aggravating insomnia.

Moderate exercise: Choose low-intensity exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi, and avoid vigorous exercise before going to bed.

By strictly following the precautions before and after acupuncture treatment, the therapeutic effect can be effectively enhanced, adverse reactions can be reduced, and the improvement of insomnia symptoms can be promoted. During the treatment process, it is necessary to maintain communication with the doctor and adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner.