Adjunctive and Alternative Treatment of Insomnia

Adjunctive and alternative treatments for insomnia are a diverse group of interventions that include natural products, mind-body interventions, manipulative and body-based therapies, and other self-regulating interventions. The use of these treatments is widespread and often perceived as involving few risks while being associated with a health-promoting lifestyle. Although the evidence for mind-body interventions, acupuncture, passive body heating, and moderate exercise shows promise, other alternative treatments have limited empirical support and some, such as natural products, have been found to be associated with significant safety concerns. Overall, more rigorous research is needed on adjunctive and alternative treatments to establish their efficacy and safety profiles, and to specify their role in the prevention and treatment of insomnia.