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TSCare TSCare
Scientists are

trying to find

Getting to the point Acupuncture is a deeply relaxing out why people The science behind sleep
treatment that could help you sleep,
explains Rebecca Bond of Riverside with TSC have
Acupuncture in West Sussex sleep problems Scientists are always trying to find out
Good quality sleep is important as it allows your body to more about what affects our sleep, but
regenerate, repairing DNA and flushing away toxins. A lack here we look at the research into the
of it can affect your learning, mood and memory, and can links with TSC and epilepsy
increase your blood pressure, among other impacts.
If you struggle to get enough sleep, you might want to The science behind sleep Professor Deb Pal
consider the ancient traditional Chinese therapy of
acupuncture. Through inserting thin stainless steel needles Recent research has shown that children with TSC are at a higher risk
into specific points in the body, it has been proven to be of sleep problems, such as trouble falling and staying asleep, than Sleep and epilepsy
effective in improving and maintaining overall wellbeing. It typically developing children.
can also help with many specific conditions, as outlined by These sleep difficulties were associated with painful health conditions, Epilepsy and sleep are tightly related and
NICE guidelines and the World Health Organisation, so it is essential that physical health problems are assessed when sleep there is a vicious cycle where anything
including pain, depression, migraines, tension headaches difficulties are identified in children with TSC. Those were the findings that causes sleep disturbance or
and arthritis. of a study led by Dr Caroline Richards and Professor Chris Oliver at the fragmentation can further trigger seizures.
Acupuncture is a deeply relaxing treatment that aims to Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of This includes sleep disorders,
anticonvulsants or seizures themselves.
tackle the root of the problem rather than just managing Birmingham.
A new study programme is looking into
symptoms. The goal of treatment is to restore the Read the full paper at goo.gl/6Vc9SY this link.
imbalances within the body, so that you feel vibrant and
Or a blog summary at goo.gl/AiQZ3P
energetic. One of the great side effects of acupuncture is The Changing Agendas on Sleep,
improved sleep, with patients finding that they are sleeping Download Cerebra’ssupport guide for Treatment and Learning in Childhood
longer and deeper, and waking less. Patients wake up parents at goo.gl/jvmCUo Epilepsy (CASTLE) project is underway. It is
feeling refreshed and with more energy, and drop off to being led by Professor Deb Pal at Kings
sleep more easily. College London and Professor Paul
Gringras at Evelina London Children’s
To find a qualified acupuncturist, call the British
Hospital, with a large team of clinical and
Acupuncture Council on 020 8735 0400or go to scientific experts, as well as parents and
www.acupuncture.org.uk TSA Adviser training as young people. This study has been

sleep practitioner funded by the National Institute for
Health Research for the next six years.
We are very pleased to be able to
It is focusing on a particular type of
tell you that our TSA Adviser epilepsy called rolandic epilepsy, which is
Keep a diary If you are struggling to Kendra Rhodehouseis, very soon, the most common type, affecting about
one-sixth of all children with epilepsy in
going to undergo training with the
get onto the internet Children's Sleep Charity to become the UK.

Keeping track of your sleep, as well as to print a copy give our first specialist Sleep Practitioner. CASTLE need parents’ help. They’d like to
your diet, habits and activities, could help your TSA Adviser a Watch this space! know what you think they should include
in their online sleep intervention so they
you discover what’s keeping you awake. ring and they will help can tailor it for parents of children with

So you can go about changing things. you with this epilepsy. They’ll then ask parents what
they think about it and whether it might
To download a diary, go to work.
www.nhs.uk/livewell/insomnia/documents/sleepdiary.pdf To find out more or register to take part,
go to castlestudy.org.uk

10 Summer 2018 TSA SCAN 11