Ever been pricked by this tiny metallic thing called needles? They are the ones used by our grandmothers for stitching or sewing. But more often than not, this pointed little thing is usually used in hospitals in almost everything; such as getting blood samples, injecting liquid medications and so on. It is that thing that most of us are so afraid to even look at. Although, a lot of people fear them, needles should be considered beneficial --- but only if used for the right manner and purpose.

A lot of people have tried this ancient medication using hair like thin needles, and research have shown that its popularity is continually increasing. Acupuncture is a safe and effective natural therapy that is used to heal illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Tiny, hair-thin needles are inserted into specific points in the body, where they are gently stimulated to trigger the body's natural healing response.

Acupuncture can be traced back as far as the Stone Age in China. It was during the time when stone knives and pointed rocks were used to relieve pain and diseases. Later these stones were replaced by needles made of bamboo and slivers of animal bone. During the Shang Dynasty, bronze casting techniques made metal needles possible, which conducted electricity (which were thought by the Chinese to be the ?qi? or internal energy) and later led to the mapping of the meridian system or ?channels? of energy within the body. It harmonizes the body's energy to influence the health of both body and mind.

Acupuncture has become an increasingly popular alternative therapy for a wide variety of ills in the United States and other Western nations over the last 25 years. It can relieve a person from illnesses and discomforts such as headaches, neck pains, allergies, arthritis, digestive problems, painful menstruation and, according to some reports, can even treat some causes of infertility and sleep disorders.

Over 50 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders including insomnia, excessive drowsiness, sleep apnea, and restless movement during sleep. To get enough rest, many of these people rely on sleep aid pills. However, medication often hides the root cause of a sleep disorder and leads to even more dangerous health risks and possibly, even drug dependencies.

Problems with the sleep cycle can result in various other signs of discomfort. Some people will find that they have problems falling asleep, and this can involve several mechanisms. Sometimes internal imbalances of the internal organs, known as the zhang-fu, can lead to sleep disorders. One result is a mind which never shuts down and is still active when the patient lies down in bed. Another disorder results in a quiet mind, but the patient remains awake and unable to fall asleep. Disorders of the zhang fu or the channels can lead to awakening after falling asleep, sometimes at the same time every night. Taking a good history and performing a thorough evaluation of the channels, the abdomen, the pulse and the tongue can help an Oriental physician determine the mechanism of disease and to formulate an appropriate treatment using acupuncture.

Although modern physicians are rarely taught much about dealing with sleep disorders other than to prescribe sleep aid pills, even the type and imagery of dreams might be helpful to diagnose the particular sleep disorder. Unfortunately, most sleep aid pills popular with physicians do not assist in obtaining physiologically normal sleep,

Tapping into acupuncture for sleep problem cures means opting for safe alternatives to conventional insomnia treatment. Someone who chooses this avenue can look forward to effective and long-lasting sleep problem solutions. With the use of acupuncture for sleep problems, stress hormones are successfully reduced and a deep calm is achieved. Plus, opting for acupuncture brings balance or homeostasis to the nervous system.

Acupuncture is considered an ancient wonder treatment or therapy for almost two thousand years and this phenomenon is still evident even in the modern world where technology seems to never stop exploring and inventing cures for illnesses.