Q Is a complete cure possible for insomnia?
A Significant improvement is reported in over 70% of patients within 6 to 12 weeks when CBT-I is combined with Korean medicine treatment, even for chronic insomnia.
Detailed Answer
Acute insomnia (less than 3 months) often resolves naturally once the underlying cause is addressed. For chronic insomnia (3 months or more), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-I) is the recommended first-line treatment, offering superior long-term efficacy compared to medication. Evidence suggests that 4 to 8 weeks of CBT-I monotherapy improves sleep efficiency to over 85% in 50–80% of patients. The recurrence rate is lower than with medication.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang Korean Medicine Clinic, when the constitutional differentiation is accurate, a reduction in sleep onset time and the frequency of mid-sleep awakenings appear starting from the 4th week. For the Heart-Spleen-Yang Deficiency type, a high rate of maintaining normal sleep without recurrence is observed upon completion of an 8-week herbal medicine-based treatment that nourishes both the mind and the spleen. Maintaining sleep hygiene guidelines even after the end of treatment is critical to the prognosis.
Related FAQs
-
Q
Isn't treatment useless if my work stress isn't resolved?
#Possibility / Realistic Goals
-
Q
Does the treatment for insomnia differ if I have anxiety or depression?
#Comorbidities
-
Q
Can Korean medicine treatment help when I have sleep apnea?
#Comorbidities
-
Q
If I can't sleep, should I force myself to keep lying down?
#Lifestyle Management
-
Q
Does taking a nap make it harder to sleep at night?
#Lifestyle Management