"I haven't been able to sleep properly for months" — patients often tell me this almost casually, as if insomnia is just an inconvenience to be put up with. But a body that doesn't sleep well sends a clear signal that something is out of balance. And that signal is worth listening to.
What happens in the brain while we are awake?
Sleep is not a passive state — during sleep, the brain performs key tasks: consolidating memories, repairing nerve cells, regulating hormones, and clearing metabolic byproducts. When sleep is disrupted, these processes cannot function properly. Neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain), particularly serotonin and melatonin, play a central role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. When their balance is disrupted, insomnia becomes chronic.
Insomnia is a symptom, not a habit
Many patients come to me with the belief that they are "simply bad sleepers" or that it is genetic. In some cases, there is indeed a predisposition, but in my practice I most often discover specific causes: increased stress that keeps the nervous system in a state of constant alert, a lack of certain nutrients, pain that increases at night, anxiety, or bad bedtime habits that have accumulated over the years.
A neurological examination helps to distinguish whether it is a primary sleep disorder or whether insomnia is the result of another condition. This is an important first step that is often skipped.
An integrated approach to insomnia
When neurological work-up rules out serious conditions, I move on to a broader approach. Nutritional analysis often reveals interesting findings: low magnesium, a deficiency in vitamin B6, which is essential for melatonin production, or inadequate levels of tryptophan (an amino acid from which serotonin and then melatonin are made). Triptobel, a dietary supplement containing L-tryptophan, can help in those situations where support for natural melatonin production is needed — of course, always as part of a broader approach, not as the only solution.
In my practice, acupuncture has proven to be an extremely useful method for calming the nervous system and improving sleep quality. Patients often notice a change after just a few treatments — not necessarily getting eight hours of sleep right away, but feeling more rested and more able to drift off to sleep more easily.
Sleep hygiene — small steps, big impact
What I advise every patient with sleep problems are steps you can start implementing tonight: go to bed and get up at the same time, including weekends. Avoid screens for an hour before bed — the blue light from cell phones and computers directly inhibits melatonin secretion. Have your last meal light, at least two hours before bed. Keep your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet.
These tips sound simple, but in practice they require consistency. Many patients tell me they have "tried everything," when in fact they have only been using each method for a few days. The nervous system needs time to adjust to a new rhythm.
Sleep is the foundation of health
In neurology, I see a direct connection between sleep quality and almost all other ailments — headaches, fatigue, concentration problems, even pain. Improving sleep is often the first step that has a positive impact on the overall condition. If you recognize yourself in this text and insomnia is disrupting your quality of life, contact us for a consultation — together we will find what your body needs for a restful sleep.