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Wellbeing28 May 2026 · 5 min read

How acupuncture helps with stress and sleep

Modern life keeps our nervous systems on high alert. Here's how traditional acupuncture helps the body switch back into rest mode.

Stress and poor sleep often go hand in hand. When we're constantly switched on, the body stays in a heightened state that makes it hard to wind down at night.

Acupuncture works by helping to regulate the nervous system, encouraging a shift out of the 'fight or flight' response and into a calmer, restorative state. Many patients describe their sessions as one of the most relaxing parts of their week.

For sleep specifically, treatment aims to address the underlying imbalance — whether you struggle to fall asleep, wake during the night, or never feel truly rested. Chinese herbal medicine is sometimes prescribed alongside acupuncture for longer-term support.

Alongside treatment, we'll often suggest small lifestyle adjustments — around screen time, caffeine and an evening wind-down routine — that help your body relearn how to rest.

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