WESTERN MEDICINE DEFINITION
“Insomnia includes having trouble falling or staying asleep. It's one of the most common medical complaints. With insomnia, you usually awaken feeling unrefreshed, which takes a toll on your ability to function during the day. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood, but also your health, work performance and quality of life.
How much sleep is enough varies from person to person. Most adults need seven to eight hours a night. More than one-third of adults have insomnia at some time, while 10 to 15 percent report long-term (chronic) insomnia.”
(Staff, 2009)
Kiiko Matsumoto Style Acupuncture
KM STYLE DEFINITION
Insomnia is a symptom that can result from several imbalances and deficiencies in KM including Autonomic Nerve Imbalance due to Sympathetic Dominance, Sphenoid Bone Imbalance, and Kidney Deficiency due to Aging. The most relevant of these conditions is likely to be Autonomic Nerve Imbalance. As Kiiko Matsumoto and David Euler describe "The lifestyle in the modern Western world requires a strong and healthy autonomic nervous system to cope with society's stresses and demands. Very often, the balance between the components of the autonomic nervous system is chronically compromised and diseases may arise from this imbalance. The overuse of stimulants like coffee, or depressants like alcohol, exposure to daily stress, lack of ample vacation time, relaxation and irregular food intake, are all very common examples of chronic abuse of the autonomic nervous system." (Matsumoto & Euler, 2005, p. 105)
CATEGORIES OF DISHARMONY
Associated Patterns
- Autonomic Nerve Imbalance: Sympathetic Dominance (pages 107-115 of Volume One)
- Sphenoid Bone Imbalance (pages 224-225 of Volume One)
- Kidney Deficiency due to Aging (pages 331-332 of Volume One)
AUTONOMIC NERVE IMBALANCE: SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Clinical Manifestations: Shortness of breath, palpitations, emotional instability, headache, back pain, decrease in frequency and quantity of urination, insomnia, lack of appetite, dizziness, nausea, eye pain, cold hands and feet. Rapid and tight pulse, tension and pressure pain in the SCM muscle, especially on the right side, and pressure pain or ‘gummy feeling’ at the Kidney Fire point, KD2.
Sphenoid Bone Imbalance
General Symptoms: Insomnia, Sleeping Disorders (including Sleep Apnea), TMJ, Jaw Pain, Ear Problems, Temporal Head Ache, Dental Problems, etc.
Findings from Palpation:
Pressure Pain on the area of CV 5 and CV 6
Pressure Pain at the attachments of the Inguinal Ligament to the ASIS
Pressure Pain on TW 17 and the Temporal Mandibular Joint
Kidney Deficiency due to Aging
General Symptoms:
Backache, stiff shoulder, fatigue, lack of motivation, headache, feeling of heaviness in the head, muscle aches, sleeping disorder, irritability, low general metabolism.
Findings from Palpation:
No feeling of the deep pulse at the third position
Cold body
Empty and sluggish feeling of the Tan-Tien and fullness at the epigastrium
Pressure Pain at TW 16 and "Evil Wind" with lumps felt behind the SCM
TREATMENT PRINCIPLE
Autonomic Nerve Imbalance: Sympathetic Dominance: Support and Balance the Autonomic Nervous System
Sphenoid Bone Imbalance: Balance the Sphenoid Bone
Kidney Deficiency due to Aging: Tonify the Kidneys
TREATMENT STRATEGY & PLAN
Autonomic Nerve Imbalance: Sympathetic Dominance
Clear Pressure Pain at the right side of the SCM
Clear Pressure Pain at the Kidney Fire Point by using Metal/Water points on the Channel
Slow down the Pulse
Points:
Kid 7, Kid 10: Metal/Water Points to Clear Pressure Pain at the Kidney Fire Point (Kid 2)
Lu 5 & Kid 27: Used in conjunction with Kid 7 & Kid 10 to relieve Pressure Pain at Kid 2 and the Adrenal Reflex IF this reflex is also painful.
Lu 5 & Lu 8: Used in conjunction with Kid 7 & Kid 10 to relieve Pressure Pain at Kid 2, the Adrenal Reflex, and Lu 10 IF both the Adrenal Reflex and Lu 10 (fire point) are active as well.
GB 25: Used if Lu 10 is still painful even after Lu 5 and Lu 8 are needled.
CV 4 and/or CV 6: To slow Rapid Pulse
L - TW 5 and GB 41: To slow Rapid Pulse and relieve Pressure Pain at Right SCM
R - ST 41 & CV 12: Supporting points to relieve Pressure Pain at Right SCM
Sphenoid Bone Imbalance
Clear Pressure Pain on the area of CV 5 and CV 6
Clear Pressure Pain at the attachments of the Inguinal Ligament to the ASIS
Clear Pressure Pain on TW 17 and the Temporal Mandibular Joint
Points:
Kid 9: Needled on ipsilateral side to relieve Pressure Pain at ASIS as well as Pressure Pain at CV 5 and CV 6 area
Kid 27: Needled on ipsilateral side to relieve Pressure Pain at the ASIS
TW Above 9: Needled on ipsilateral side to relieve Pressure Pain at ASIS as well as TW 17 and the Temporal Mandibular Joint
BL 11: Bone Shu Point used to Support Balancing of the Sphenoid Bone
Kidney Deficiency due to Aging
Tonify the kidneys by building up vital energy. This treatment is "applied at the beginning of the session in order to change the pulse (weak third position). The abdominal findings will not change right away; it takes more than one treatment for such change to occur in a patient with this type of deficiency." (Matsumoto & Euler, 2005, p. 332)
Points:
Kid 9 (4 fingers above Kid 8): Needled at a 90 degree insertion. Eight direct, threat-sized moxa stimulations.
Kid 27: Needled at 10 degrees towards the sternoclavicular joint and stimulated with very small in and out thrusts.
Needles are retained for twenty minutes.
Insomnia Point
The Insomnia Point, located on the center of the heel pad of the foot may also be used as supporting point during any treatment. Often it is recommended to use eight direct thread sized moxa on this point as well.
PATIENT EDUCATION / RECOMMENDATIONS
For patients suffering from Autonomic Nerve Imbalance due to Sympathetic Dominance, it is recommended the patient reduce stress in any way they can as this condition is often brought on as a result of the body remaining in a Fight/Flight state for frequent and extended periods of time. Also, from a dietary perspective, it is recommended that the patient avoid the overuse of stimulants like coffee, or depressants such as alcohol.
PROGNOSIS
Although KM Style of treatment for the above three conditions is highly effective, many of these conditions are complicated and/or chronic in nature. Therefore, improvements will be noticed by the patient initially, however, they will take a longer course of treatment in order to rectify these imbalances.
SOURCES
Matsumoto, K., & Euler, D. (2005). Kiiko Matsumoto's Clinical Strategies: Volume One. Natick: Kiiko Matsumoto International.
Staff, M. C. (2009, January 8). Insomnia. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/insomnia/DS00187