Five Element
Acupuncture for Insomnia & Sleep Issues
Insomnia & Sleep Issues: An Overview
Sleep problems affect millions of people in London and can have a profound impact on daily life. For some, the difficulty lies in falling asleep, while for others it’s waking in the middle of the night and being unable to drift back off. Over time, disrupted sleep can take a serious toll — leading to fatigue, low mood, irritability, poor concentration, and a general feeling of being “run down.”
Insomnia and sleep issue can also make existing stress, anxiety, or health issues worse, creating a frustrating cycle that’s hard to break. Good-quality sleep is one of the body’s most essential healing tools, and restoring it can transform both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Insomnia & Sleep Issues FAQs: Acupuncture Support
Q: What causes insomnia from a Five-Element perspective?
From a Five-Element viewpoint, sleep difficulties often arise when the natural rhythms of the body and mind are disrupted. This may happen when one Element becomes overburdened, or when the relationship between them loses its usual harmony. Long-term stress, emotional pressure, grief, shock, or periods of transition can all create patterns that make rest more elusive.
One area we commonly explore is the relationship between the Heart and the Kidneys — the “Fire–Water” axis. In Five-Element theory, this relationship governs our ability to settle, let go, and transition from activity into deep rest. When these Elements fall out of balance, the mind may feel overactive at night, the body may feel wired yet exhausted, or sleep may feel light, broken or easily disturbed.
Another pattern involves the “off-loading” of the day. If emotions or experiences remain unprocessed, they can rise to the surface at night, creating mental noise or restlessness. In such cases, treatment focuses on gently supporting the relevant Element so the system can unwind more naturally.
Think of it as restoring the internal rhythm that allows the body to descend into stillness. When harmony returns, sleep often becomes more accessible — not forced, but allowed.
Q: How quickly might I feel a difference in my sleep?
Everyone responds differently. Some people describe feeling calmer or more settled after the first few sessions, noticing that their mind feels less busy at bedtime. For others, improvements may unfold more gradually as deeper patterns begin to shift. In Five-Element acupuncture, we’re not aiming for a quick fix but for a steadier, more sustainable internal balance that supports rest over time.
Q: Can acupuncture support chronic insomnia or long-term sleep problems?
Many people seek acupuncture when sleep difficulties have been present for months or even years. Five-Element acupuncture approaches chronic insomnia by exploring the wider emotional, lifestyle, and constitutional patterns that may be contributing to disrupted rest. While responses vary, some individuals report feeling calmer, more grounded, or more able to unwind as part of their treatment experience.
Regular sessions can offer a supportive space for the nervous system to settle. Acupuncture can also sit comfortably alongside guidance from your GP or sleep specialist, forming part of a broader approach to improving overall wellbeing and rest.
Insomnia & Sleep Issues from a Western Perspective
From a Western perspective, insomnia is often linked to stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalance, or over-activation of the nervous system — the body simply forgetting how to “power down.”
Conventional treatments may include prescription sleep medication, melatonin supplements, or cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), along with advice on improving sleep hygiene such as limiting screen time, caffeine, and late-night stimulation. These approaches can be helpful in managing symptoms and resetting sleep routines, but they don’t always address the deeper imbalance behind chronic sleeplessness.
As a result, many patients seek a more natural approach — one that gently restores the body’s innate ability to relax, switch off, and find true rest.
A Five-Element Perspective on Insomnia & Sleep Issues
In Five-Element acupuncture, poor sleep is seen as a symptom of imbalance rather than the problem itself. For example, an overactive Fire Element can create restlessness and racing thoughts, while a depleted Water Element may leave the system unable to “switch off” at night.
Sometimes these patterns are described in acupuncture terms as Heart Yin deficiency or Kidney Yin deficiency. But rather than treating the label, Five-Element practice works at the root to restore balance and allow the body’s natural rhythm of rest to return.
Patients often notice that not only does sleep improve, but their energy, mood, and overall resilience also lift — a ripple effect that goes far beyond bedtime.
What Patients Say
I visited Johnny at Kite Clinic and had the most wonderful experience. Attentive and thorough, Johnny treated me for Insomia. His acupuncture treatment is second to none and I plan on continue this incredible journey with him. Thank you John! - Jamie Heard
What Patients Say...
I visited Johnny at Kite Clinic and had the most wonderful experience. Attentive and thorough, Johnny treated me for Insomia. His acupuncture treatment is second to none and I plan on continue this incredible journey with him. Thank you John! - Jamie Heard
How Acupuncture Is Used for Insomnia & Sleep Issues
Five Element Acupuncture helps calm an overactive mind and soothe the nervous system, allowing the body to return to its natural rhythm of rest and renewal. Insomnia often reflects an imbalance between activity and stillness — the inability of the system to fully transition from the energy of the day into the restoration of the night.
According to the Law of Midday–Midnight, the body follows a 24-hour energetic cycle in which Qi moves through each organ system in sequence. When this rhythm is disrupted — for example, when the energy that should descend and settle at night remains active and circulating — sleep becomes fragmented or elusive.
Treatment focuses on restoring harmony to this cycle: helping the body know when to rise and when to rest. By regulating the flow of Qi between its daytime and nighttime pathways, acupuncture calms the mind, reduces overthinking, and re-establishes the deep, natural pulse of sleep. Over time, this not only improves rest, but restores clarity, energy, and emotional balance throughout the day.
In summary:
• Calms the nervous system for deeper rest
• Reduces stress and overthinking at night
• Restores natural sleep rhythms and cycles
• Boosts energy and mood during the day
Important Note:
Acupuncture is offered here as a holistic and complementary therapy, drawing on Five-Element principles and traditional Chinese medicine theory. Many people find it supportive, although responses vary and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Evidence from observational studies and systematic reviews — including references from organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and, where relevant, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — suggests that acupuncture may be used to support wellbeing and certain symptoms. However, it should not be considered a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment.
Each treatment is tailored to the individual, and experiences differ from person to person. If you have a medical condition or are under the care of a GP or specialist, please continue with your prescribed treatment plan. Acupuncture can be used alongside medical care, and it is advisable to discuss any changes with your healthcare provider.
