Hours spent lying awake worrying, waking up exhausted, barely functioning during the day — and then it starts all over again at night. Lily Chen treats sleep problems with traditional Chinese medicine. Not with sleeping pills, but by addressing the pattern that's disrupting your sleep.
Melatonin, sleep hygiene advice and sleeping pills treat the symptom: you get through the night, but the underlying cause remains. In TCM, there is no such thing as a single "sleep problem". Someone who can't fall asleep has a different imbalance than someone who wakes at exactly 3am with anxiety, or someone who sleeps eight hours but wakes up unrested. The type of sleep disturbance reveals which organ system is out of balance.
The most common TCM patterns behind sleep problems are: the Heart failing to anchor the Mind (Shen) — leaving the head unable to settle at night — Heart-Kidney disharmony caused by Yin deficiency, and Liver Qi stagnation turning into heat that unsettles the mind. During the intake, Lily identifies which pattern is at play and tailors the treatment precisely to it.
Points such as HT7 (Shenmen, the "gate of the spirit") and the extra point Anmian calm the Heart so the Mind can settle. This is the primary TCM pattern behind difficulty falling asleep, excessive worrying in bed, and a head that simply won't quiet down.
Someone who wakes at 3am with anxiety or heart palpitations has a different TCM diagnosis than someone with vivid dreams, night sweats, or morning fatigue. During the intake, Lily determines which pattern is at play — Heart, Liver or Kidney — and treats exactly that. Standard recipes don't work here.
Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowers cortisol levels and reduces the physiological alertness that blocks sleep onset. Patients with stress- or burnout-related sleep problems often see quick improvement in sleep quality as a result — even after a long period of poor sleep.
Not sure whether acupuncture suits your complaint? Get in touch — Lily is happy to advise, free of obligation.
Lily asks not only how you sleep, but also when you wake up, what goes through your mind at that moment, and which physical complaints accompany the sleep problems. Based on this, she identifies the TCM pattern and creates a personal treatment plan. You receive your first treatment right away.
Sleep problems generally respond well to 6–8 treatments. Many patients notice they fall asleep more easily or wake less often after just 2–3 sessions. Each session is adjusted based on your progress.
For sleep problems linked to tension or neck and shoulder pain, Lily adds cupping or moxibustion. In cases of pronounced Yin deficiency, she can also offer additional TCM herbal advice. This is always decided together with you.
After the treatment plan, many patients opt for a monthly session to prevent relapse during stressful periods or seasonal changes.
| Session | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| First visit (incl. consultation & treatment plan) | 85 min | €100 |
| Follow-up treatment | 60 min | €90 |
| Extended session | 90 min | €105 |
Add-ons: Add cupping · +€15 | Add gua sha · +€15
✓ Reimbursed by most Dutch supplementary insurance plans — Zhong NVTCG & S.C.A.G registered. Simply submit the invoice to your insurer after treatment. More about insurance →
"I'd slept badly for years. After six treatments with Lily I sleep through until morning. I didn't expect acupuncture could do this."
"I used to wake up at 3am every night with racing thoughts. Lily explained what this meant from a TCM perspective and treated exactly that. Three weeks later I was sleeping through the night."
"After my burnout I couldn't really sleep for years. Acupuncture calmed my nervous system in a way no sleeping pill ever managed."
For stress- and pattern-related sleep problems, acupuncture has well-documented results in clinical research. It doesn't work for everyone or for every cause — but for the most common patterns (racing thoughts, difficulty falling asleep, early waking) the results are consistently positive. Acupuncture doesn't cure a sleep disorder, but it can significantly improve the pattern that's disrupting your sleep.
On average, 6–8 sessions. Many patients already notice a difference in sleep quality or duration after 2–3 treatments. After that, preventive maintenance (once a month, or during stressful periods) is recommended to sustain the results.
Yes. Acupuncture combines well with medication. Let Lily know at intake which medications you're using. The goal isn't necessarily to stop your medication, but to improve the underlying pattern so you need less of it.
Under most supplementary (aanvullende) insurance plans, yes. Tianyi is Zhong NVTCG & S.C.A.G registered. After each treatment you receive an invoice with an AGB code to submit to your insurer.
If you suspect sleep apnoea, have a serious psychiatric cause (such as depression or an anxiety disorder), or have experienced prolonged, extreme sleep deprivation — see your GP (huisarts) first. Acupuncture is well suited to sleep problems linked to stress, tension, pattern-related alertness, or lifestyle.
Book an appointment today. Your first session is always a getting-to-know-you visit — including intake and a personal treatment plan.
