The TCM view
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the time you wake, how your mind feels at night, night sweats, dreams and digestion all help distinguish sleep patterns — which is why two people with insomnia may receive different treatment.
Conditions · Sleep
Tired all day, awake all night?
Poor sleep affects mood, pain, hormones, focus and patience. Whether you can't fall asleep, wake at 3 a.m. or never feel rested, we look at why your sleep pattern looks the way it does.
Does this sound familiar?
What we hear from patients
- “I'm exhausted but can't sleep.”
- “I wake up at the same time every night.”
- “My mind starts racing the moment I lie down.”
- “I sleep eight hours and still wake up tired.”
Concerns we commonly support
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Night waking
- Early waking
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Sleep disrupted by hormones, pain or stress
How Dr. Kristina explains it
You'll hear both the Traditional Chinese Medicine view and the familiar medical view, so you understand what we're doing and why.
The medical view
Biomedically, insomnia is often maintained by hyperarousal and habits around sleep. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a first-line treatment. Acupuncture is studied as a complementary approach, and conditions like sleep apnea should be ruled out with your physician.
Your care at Seven Medicine
How treatment is personalized
How long care usually takes
Patients often begin weekly. We track sleep onset, waking and daytime energy so we can judge progress honestly.
01
Pattern-specific treatment
Points and recommendations are matched to how your sleep is actually disrupted.
02
Sleep-routine coaching
Light, timing, caffeine, alcohol and wind-down habits — simple, sustainable and followed up.
03
Root contributors
Hormonal shifts, pain, stress and digestion are often part of the sleep picture and are addressed together.
Research
What the research says
We summarize the highest-quality research we can find — systematic reviews, Cochrane reviews, guidelines and large trials — including results that don't favor acupuncture. You deserve the full picture.
Reviewed October 2026. Research describes groups of people, not guarantees for any individual. Explore the research →
Insomnia
A Cochrane review found evidence too low-quality to support or refute acupuncture for insomnia. A 2025 Cochrane review in people with cancer found it may help versus no treatment but may make little difference versus sham, and was likely less effective than CBT-I — which remains the recommended first-line treatment.
2 sources
- [1]Cheuk DK, Yeung WF, Chung KF, et al. Acupuncture for insomnia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(9):CD005472. PubMed 22972087 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD005472.pub3 (opens in a new tab)· Cochrane systematic review
- [2]Ma Q, Liu C, Zhao G, et al. Acupuncture for insomnia in people with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025;12(12):CD015177. PubMed 41347621 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD015177.pub2 (opens in a new tab)· Cochrane systematic review
From Seven Medicine
Patient stories
Shared with names and identifying details removed.
Patient story · Longer-standing, whole-body concerns
Sleep, night sweats, fatigue and cycle changes — all at once
- Where they started
- A patient came in with several symptoms that had built up over a long time: disrupted sleep, night sweats, fatigue, stress and changes in their cycle.
- The plan
- Dr. Kristina recommended more consistent visits at the start, individualized food and lifestyle suggestions, and a reassessment after about the first month — alongside the patient's medical care.
- Over time
- Progress came gradually and wasn't a straight line. As sleep and the other symptoms settled, visits were spaced further apart.
When several longstanding symptoms overlap, care is often more consistent at first, then reduced as things improve.
Individual results vary. These stories describe individual patients and are not typical or guaranteed outcomes.
Patient experiences
In patients’ words
Individual experiences vary. Testimonials reflect personal experiences, not typical or guaranteed results.
Meet your practitioner
Dr. Kristina Gacesa
DAcCHM, M.CM, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
Dr. Kristina completed her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine as valedictorian, summa cum laude, after earning master’s degrees in both acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her clinical training spans hospital and rehabilitation settings in Minnesota and clinical study in Zhengzhou, China.
She explains your care in both TCM and familiar medical terms, so you understand what she’s seeing, why she recommends what she does, and how you’ll know if it’s working.
Dr. Kristina holds a clinical doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She is a licensed acupuncturist, not a medical physician (MD/DO), and works alongside — not in place of — your medical team.
FAQ
Sleep questions
Should I be evaluated for sleep apnea?
If you snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep, or have significant daytime sleepiness, talk with your physician about a sleep evaluation. Acupuncture does not treat sleep apnea.
Can I keep using my sleep medication?
Yes. Don't change medications without your prescriber. Acupuncture can be used alongside your current plan.
Still have questions?
or call(507) 258-7771