Acupuncture may help restore disrupted sleep-wake timing by influencing brain and body clocks through neurochemical pathways.
This review examined animal and clinical studies of acupuncture for circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, comparing acupuncture techniques, selected body points, and measured biochemical indicators. It also synthesised proposed mechanisms involving central brain clocks and peripheral clocks throughout the body, with attention to sleep-related circadian regulation and neurochemical signalling.
The reviewed evidence suggests that acupuncture can influence sleep-related circadian rhythms and may improve disrupted sleep-wake patterns through effects on biological clock systems. However, findings across studies were inconsistent, and variation in treatment methods, point selection, outcome measures, and study design limited clear conclusions about effectiveness.
