The frequency setting of acupuncture treatment for insomnia should be flexibly adjusted according to the condition, course of the disease and individual circumstances of the patient. Generally, it follows the principle of intensive treatment in the early stage, flexible treatment in the middle stage and maintenance in the later stage. The specific details are as follows:

Initial intensive treatment

In the early stage of acupuncture treatment for insomnia, in order to improve the symptoms of insomnia as soon as possible, more frequent acupuncture treatment can be adopted. It is initially recommended to undergo acupuncture every day within the first week. The aim is to quickly adjust the body’s condition, promote the relaxation of the nervous system, and improve sleep quality. For patients with more severe conditions, such as those experiencing dizziness, fatigue, endocrine disorders, anxiety, depression and other symptoms, the duration of acupuncture may be longer, approximately twenty sessions.

Mid-term flexible adjustment

When patients start to experience an improvement in their sleep, the frequency of acupuncture can be appropriately reduced, for instance, to once every other day or 3 to 4 times a week. This adjustment is aimed at maintaining the therapeutic effect while providing the body with a certain space for self-recovery and adjustment. For instance, patients with mild insomnia may show significant improvement after several treatments. At this point, the frequency of treatment can be appropriately reduced. However, patients with moderate insomnia may require a longer treatment cycle, and the frequency adjustment also needs to be more cautious.

Post-treatment maintenance therapy

As symptoms further ease, the treatment interval can be extended, possibly once a week or adjusted to several times a month based on individual circumstances, as maintenance treatment to prevent recurrence of symptoms. For instance, after a period of treatment, the sleep quality of some patients has basically returned to normal. At this point, the treatment interval can be appropriately extended to consolidate the therapeutic effect.