Using Alpha-Stim to Improve Your Sleep

Insomnia

January 7th, 2011

Studies show that 18 to 24 million Americans suffer from some type of insomnia. There are currently 3 patterns of insomnia recognized in our healthcare system.

1. Delayed sleep onset- these are the people who lie in bed worrying about the fact that they can’t fall asleep
2. Impaired sleep continuity- this refers to your ability to stay asleep during the night
3. Early-morning awakening- you’re able to fall asleep, but awaken much too early and are not able to go back to sleep

Insomnia is a major problem on its own but it also accompanies many disorders. Insomnia can be the sole symptom of depression, and is one of the main issues in dealing with disorders like fibromyalgia and chronic pain.

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) was originally studied in Eastern Europe and was referred to as “electrosleep” as it was thought to induce sleep. We now use CES to treat anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Although we use it to treat insomnia, we don’t recommend using it to induce sleep, but 2 to 3 hours before bedtime because CES can increase your alertness and mental awareness.

Maybe you don’t consider yourself an insomniac, but it might not hurt to take a moment to look at your own sleep patterns. The most common symptoms of insomnia include: waking up feeling like you didn’t get enough sleep, irritability, trouble getting comfortable at night, difficulty falling asleep, waking up to early, and finding it hard to get things done during the day due to drowsiness. If any of these sound familiar, then maybe you could benefit from CES too.

CES treatments have shown on electroencephalogram (EEG) to increase alpha waves which are directly related to relaxation. An analysis of 20 research studies that used CES to treat insomnia revealed an average improvement of 64%. A physician survey of 135 patients using CES to treat insomnia showed 79% improvement.

Alpha-Stim will increase the quality of your sleep by decreasing your anxiety, decreasing wakefulness, and increasing stage IV sleep, which is the deepest most restful stage of sleep. The most common insomnia pharmaceutical treatments are much less efficacious, have addictive tendencies, and show rapid tolerance making them less effective over time. Several medications used to treat insomnia now carry “black box” warnings. This means that there is significant risk of serious or even life-threatening adverse effects. Compare these medications to the Alpha-Stim which has a cumulative therapeutic effect, no risk of addiction, and only a slight risk of minor, self-limiting side-effects.

After using CES, patients who suffer from insomnia report things like “I am sleeping much better and feel rested in the morning”, “I would stay in a deep sleep all night long”, and “I am sleeping much better and feel rested in the morning.” These quotes are taken directly from our testimonial page (www.alpha-stim.com/testimonials).

To learn more about what Alpha-Stim can do for you, check out our website at www.alpha-stim.com. If you are located in the United States and think Alpha-Stim right for you, consult your doctor. If you are located outside the United States you can enjoy Alpha-Stim without a prescription.

Jeff A. Marksberry M.D.

Science and Education Director