While many people are aware of the value of acupuncture in treating painful conditions, it is likely that far fewer would think of it as a treatment for insomnia. But it can be very effective.

Acupuncture works, says the Chinese theory, because it balances out the body’s Qi (energy or life force), ensuring that it is flowing normally around the body, without blockages, excesses or deficiencies. Qi is said to be carried through the body in a series of channels or meridians and illness is caused when its flow becomes interrupted or imbalanced. The skill of the acupuncturist is being able to insert needles into the right points so as to restore the flow of Qi to normal. Acupuncture, therefore, is a holistic therapy . . . it treats the whole person, not just the symptoms which he or she is experiencing.

It is not only Qi that can be disrupted, however. Yin and yang, too, can become imbalanced. Yin and yang are not actual things but rather are aspects - everything has a yin aspect and a yang aspect, in much the same way that everything has a right side and a left side. But while no particular characteristics are associated with right and left, yin and yang are different from each other in every way. Most importantly, as far as the treatment of insomnia is concerned, yang is associated with activity and with heat, while yin is calm and cool. In order for us to be able to sleep, our yang energy has to move inwards while the yin energy emerges. So stress, exercise, spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine - all of which stimulate the body’s yang - can interfere with sleep. Conversely, soft lighting, gentle music, meditation and chamomile herbal preparations - all of which stimulate yin - can assist sleep.

There are twelve pairs of major meridians (one on the left side of the body and one on the right) that carry the Qi and each pair is associated with, and named after, one of the organs of the body. And because, according to acupuncture theory, the Heart can be affected by anxiety, the Spleen by worry and the Liver by stress, the meridians associated with these three organs are particularly likely to be involved in cases of insomnia.

The time at which someone tends to wake up may give a clue as to which meridian needs treatment, since Qi runs through the meridians in a set order over a twenty four hour period. For example, waking on a regular basis between 1.00am and 3.00am would suggest that the Liver Meridian needs treatment as this is when it should experience its maximum flow of Qi.

In treating insomnia, the acupuncturist will choose points that will calm the body and the mind, ensure that yin is not being overpowered by yang, and enable Qi to run smoothly and efficiently through the body. In addition, there is one acupuncture point called An Mian which is specific insomnia - its name means "Peaceful Sleep".