“I feel very sleepy after my acupuncture session. Is this normal?”
I am undergoing acupuncture treatment for my PCOD. But, after my session I started to feel extremely sleepy. Is it normal or is something wrong?
34 Answers
It’s a normal feeling after acupuncture. Acupuncture is using your own energy to fix your problem. More needle more sleepy.
After acupuncture sessions, it's normal to feel very sleepy, because the sleeping is probably a natural result of the rebalancing of the electrical energies along the meridians of your body.
Totally normal. Your body is doing a lot of work during acupuncture, so it's a good sign that your body was busy healing.
It is normal.
Dr. Hui (Grace) Gao LAc., TCMD
Dr. Hui (Grace) Gao LAc., TCMD
I often tell my patients that acupuncture reminds us of what is really going on. People who tend to push through and go until they crash will come in pumped on adrenaline and leave aware of how tired they actually are. Conversely, those who are stuck, frustrated and can't get motivated, may leave feeling energized and ready go after treatment.
Sometimes, when the body restores its own balance, you might feel more sleepy. I would recommend more rest if you feel sleepy.
it is nothing wrong, because your whole body relaxed after acupuncture
What is possible then acupuncture points for sedation are used.
This can be a normal response. I would discuss this with your acupuncturist.
Mr. Anthony James Lorenzo
Acupuncturist
Acupuncture in essence is a therapy to move Energy/Qi. The act of moving something, just as one would realize logically, is slightly draining, as it uses some energy. Too much movement in a person already drained can cause even greater fatigue. However, I don't know the specifics about you. Are you sleeping 8 hours a night? Are you engaging in routine activities to mitigate your exposure to stress (like meditation)? If you aren't getting adequate sleep and your system is run down, then I wouldn't be surprised at all if you got tired after a treatment. Listen to your body. Take a nap. Ask your practitioner about some tonic/strenghtening herbs to help increase your energy.
It is normal since acupuncture is stimulating your body to fight the problem you had. After acupuncture treatment, your body is using energy to fight, and certainly you feel tired and sleepy.
This is a normal side effect of acupuncture. Sometimes, when I see that happen in my office, I try to dial back a little on the intensity of treatment so that it does not deplete my patients' energy as much. I try to have them stay as functional as possible. However, your body may need to feel that way until the cycle reverses. Meaning, you will ultimately get to a point where you get more energy after treatments!
Hi, it is normal to feel relaxed and sometimes sleep, if you are feeling extremely sleepy be sure to let your acupuncturist know :) There is nothing wrong :)
Good day,
Thanks for your question.
If this occurs specifically only after acupuncture, yes, this can be a result of acupuncture for a number of reasons, the simplest being that you are more relaxed. Discuss with your provider, though, as they may need to adjust your sessions so that you are alert for driving if you drive after.
Be well,
B
Thanks for your question.
If this occurs specifically only after acupuncture, yes, this can be a result of acupuncture for a number of reasons, the simplest being that you are more relaxed. Discuss with your provider, though, as they may need to adjust your sessions so that you are alert for driving if you drive after.
Be well,
B
May I respond to your question with a question? Did you ask your acupuncturist that question, and if not, why not ?
Yes, it is normal, because of the dopamine release from your brain after the acupuncture treatment!
Huimin liu
Huimin liu
Acupuncture regulates neurotransmitters in your brain in particular serotonin. It usually causes sleepiness for 10% of new patients in my 33 years of practice. If on your return visits, you feel sleepy all the time, you may need to tell your acupuncturist to do less stimulation. For some people who lacks good night sleep, it is merely a signal from the brain; you need a better sleep!
Unfortunately, this is an "it depends" answer. Without knowing your Chinese medical diagnosis and what points your provider is using, it can be difficult to evaluate what's going on post-treatment.
Generally speaking, some fatigue/sleepiness after a treatment is normal. Acupuncture treatments can be very relaxing and sometimes it's difficult to pull yourself out so you can complete your day. A few things you might try:
1. Have a little something to eat either right before or just after your acupuncture treatment
2. Set your appointment for later in the day so you're not returning to work or other activities while still feeling the effects
3. Talk to your acupuncture provider and see if this is something they expect or if they have specific suggestions to manage the sleepiness
Best regards,
Jeff Rippey, M.S. Ac., Dipl Ac. (NCCAOM), L.Ac.
Generally speaking, some fatigue/sleepiness after a treatment is normal. Acupuncture treatments can be very relaxing and sometimes it's difficult to pull yourself out so you can complete your day. A few things you might try:
1. Have a little something to eat either right before or just after your acupuncture treatment
2. Set your appointment for later in the day so you're not returning to work or other activities while still feeling the effects
3. Talk to your acupuncture provider and see if this is something they expect or if they have specific suggestions to manage the sleepiness
Best regards,
Jeff Rippey, M.S. Ac., Dipl Ac. (NCCAOM), L.Ac.
Feeling relaxed after acupuncture is normal! Try to take the time to enjoy.
Hi,
Good day.
About your question with limited information you gave to me, my answer is it depends on your age, health and what your acupuncturist intent to do.
Usually after treatment, some of client feels tired by feeling too relax. Is that your case?
If it is not, you might need to chat with your acupuncturist to adjust his/her treatment. Sometimes too many needles make patient feels exhaust.
It also could be a healing reaction, because after treatment the first or second day, one might feels sleepy due to body fast recovery.
Again there could be so many reasons. Hope these answer help
Hope you are doing well. PCOD can get good result from acupuncture treatment and herbal supplements.
Have a great day
Huan Wen Jonathan Fang
Good day.
About your question with limited information you gave to me, my answer is it depends on your age, health and what your acupuncturist intent to do.
Usually after treatment, some of client feels tired by feeling too relax. Is that your case?
If it is not, you might need to chat with your acupuncturist to adjust his/her treatment. Sometimes too many needles make patient feels exhaust.
It also could be a healing reaction, because after treatment the first or second day, one might feels sleepy due to body fast recovery.
Again there could be so many reasons. Hope these answer help
Hope you are doing well. PCOD can get good result from acupuncture treatment and herbal supplements.
Have a great day
Huan Wen Jonathan Fang
This is generally a normal response. We are greatly unaware of how much pressure the stresses of daily life put on us and how it truly affects our bodies. When we receive acupuncture (or massage or other treatments that help us releases stress) the body goes into what I call "it's true state of deficiency."
In short, you're feeling tired because your body truly is tired. The rest will help you heal better, so take advantage of that restful feeling. This will also allow you to start taking better care of yourself i.e. rest well, eat well, play well...
I hope this answered your question, if not feel free to follow up with another.
In short, you're feeling tired because your body truly is tired. The rest will help you heal better, so take advantage of that restful feeling. This will also allow you to start taking better care of yourself i.e. rest well, eat well, play well...
I hope this answered your question, if not feel free to follow up with another.
When treating Oriental medicine Treatments For Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD), we mainly use Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) or Kidney Channel. These channels control Yin, which also controls the night, which can eventually be linked to sleep. So, if it does not ruin your everyday life, it might be okay. But above all, it is a good idea to talk to your acupuncturist. This is because your constitution and current treatment may not fit well. Or other factors besides treatment, for example, one of your lifestyle habits may increase your sleep.
The greater the imbalance in your body, the more sleepy you feel after a acupuncture session. Try not to sleep after the acupuncture session, go for a walk, drink healing tea, go about your daily activity and go to bed early. The next day you will feel refreshed. As you become more balanced, according to the five principles, you will feel less and less tired after a treatment. Also remember that the energy channels that connects to the womb, also connect to other internal organs.
This is normal. You can ask Your acupuncturist to use less needles during the treatment
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out. It is very normal to feel sleepy after acupuncture. Since acupuncture turns the body from sympathetic mode of fight and flight to parasympathetic mode of rest and digest. Which leads to the patient to be very relaxed and that leads to the brain to confuse the feeling with sluggish and sleepy.
Hope that answers your question!
Warm regards,
Aleksandra Dianova, L.Ac.
Thank you for reaching out. It is very normal to feel sleepy after acupuncture. Since acupuncture turns the body from sympathetic mode of fight and flight to parasympathetic mode of rest and digest. Which leads to the patient to be very relaxed and that leads to the brain to confuse the feeling with sluggish and sleepy.
Hope that answers your question!
Warm regards,
Aleksandra Dianova, L.Ac.
It could be normal and temporary if you don't have enough energy. Acupuncture treatment will use up your body's energy to remove blockages in your body, in your case, the cysts in your ovaries. If your overall condition gets better with the treatments, it should get better as well.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Hi there,
Thanks for your email question!
Yes, it is absolutely normal! Acupuncture works on the Vagus nerve. It is the nerve that gives us the relaxation response. Perfectly normal!
Enjoy,
Andrew
Thanks for your email question!
Yes, it is absolutely normal! Acupuncture works on the Vagus nerve. It is the nerve that gives us the relaxation response. Perfectly normal!
Enjoy,
Andrew
Feeling very relaxed, even "spacey" or sleepy is not uncommon right after acupuncture. Often times people who are habitually overworked and/or don't get enough rest report to me that they slept an extra long time the next day. Feeling sleepy is acceptable after a treatment.
Acupuncture releases endorphins, which are body’s natural pain relieving biochemicals and they help transition the body into the parasympathetic nervous system mode. In this mode the body heals, regenerates and you also relax. Since in our busy lives we often run on excess cortisol and adrenaline, we may feel energized as our bodies are overstimulated and once you calm the system down, instead of relaxed, you feel tired, which is how your body really feels when not masked by stress hormones. My suggestion would be to always be properly hydrated, eat a balanced meal with good quality protein and low glycemic carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans) appropriate for your constitutional make up and talk to your acupuncturist about it. Perhaps lowering the number of needles and/ or amount of stimulation until you build up your resources may be appropriate. Active stress management and adequate sleep will also support healthy energy levels. Hope this helps.
There is nothing to be worried about, however, it is important to eat a snack before starting an acupuncture session. If this feeling persists, I would recommend to discuss it with your acupuncturist. The treatment time might need to be reduced or the treatment protocol might need to be modified.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Hello,
Feeling sleepy is a normal response after an acupuncture treatment. Treatment will help to release certain hormones in your body to relieve stress and tension. Many chronic issue patients feel the same as well.
Sincerely,
Scott Sang In LeeChun Am Acupuncture천암 한의원
Feeling sleepy is a normal response after an acupuncture treatment. Treatment will help to release certain hormones in your body to relieve stress and tension. Many chronic issue patients feel the same as well.
Sincerely,
Scott Sang In LeeChun Am Acupuncture천암 한의원
It is normal to feel very tired after an acupuncture session and happens to a lot of people. There could be a couple of different reasons why. The most common reason is that acupuncture stimulates the "rest and digest" part of your nervous system. When that part of your nervous system is active, your body goes into "healing mode" which is a very relaxed and restful state. This can make you very sleepy during and after treatment.
The other common reason you would feel tired after a treatment is if your body is already run down and "deficient". When you get acupuncture it draws on your energy stores to get your body to heal. If you are already low on energy then you will feel the draw even more, again, making you sleepy after treatment.
If I were you I would have a conversation with your acupuncturist so they can determine why this is happening and if they need to adjust their treatment strategy a bit. I find some of my patients can handle a more aggressive treatment and some need a lesser approach. Communication is key to figuring this out.
The other common reason you would feel tired after a treatment is if your body is already run down and "deficient". When you get acupuncture it draws on your energy stores to get your body to heal. If you are already low on energy then you will feel the draw even more, again, making you sleepy after treatment.
If I were you I would have a conversation with your acupuncturist so they can determine why this is happening and if they need to adjust their treatment strategy a bit. I find some of my patients can handle a more aggressive treatment and some need a lesser approach. Communication is key to figuring this out.
Hi,
It is a normal response to feel sleepy after acupuncture, though it doesn't happen to everyone or necessarily on every treatment. One of the common side effects of Acupuncture is calming the parasympathetic nervous system. This can feel relaxation or sleepiness. I encourage you to ask your Acupuncturist about it. They may be able to modify the Acupuncture points they are using or it may be an integral part of your treatment depending upon what it is your working on. In general, talking with our practitioner is the best way to get specific information concerning what they are doing for you.
It is a normal response to feel sleepy after acupuncture, though it doesn't happen to everyone or necessarily on every treatment. One of the common side effects of Acupuncture is calming the parasympathetic nervous system. This can feel relaxation or sleepiness. I encourage you to ask your Acupuncturist about it. They may be able to modify the Acupuncture points they are using or it may be an integral part of your treatment depending upon what it is your working on. In general, talking with our practitioner is the best way to get specific information concerning what they are doing for you.
Hi, thank you for the question. Several questions I want to know is how long the sleepy feeling lasted? Did you fall asleep during/after the treatment? How did you feel after 1-2 days from acupuncture treatment?
Acupuncture treatment is through the needle, redirect the energy in the channel. People might have different reactions during/after receiving the treatment. Dizziness or sleepy are normal. Most of our patients fall asleep during the treatment. Acupuncture are very relaxing. However, if each session you feel extremely sleepy, you might want to discuss with your acupuncturist and see if a change in treatment plan is necessary.
Acupuncture treatment is through the needle, redirect the energy in the channel. People might have different reactions during/after receiving the treatment. Dizziness or sleepy are normal. Most of our patients fall asleep during the treatment. Acupuncture are very relaxing. However, if each session you feel extremely sleepy, you might want to discuss with your acupuncturist and see if a change in treatment plan is necessary.
