BrainSleep Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Atsushi Hirota; hereinafter "BrainSleep") and Fureasu Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Hiroshi Sawato; hereinafter "Fureasu") conducted a joint research project (hereinafter "this research") on the quality of sleep and the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatments. This research compared sleep on "days with treatment" and "days without treatment," based on sleep-focused acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatments supervised by Fureasu. Conducted on men and women in their 20s to 50s, the results confirmed that acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatments contribute to improving sleep quality, such as by shortening the time spent awake during the night and enhancing the feeling of refreshment upon waking. Background BrainSleep’s mission is “the happiest life through the best sleep.” With the goal of solving Japan’s sleep issues, we engage in a wide range of sleep-related businesses, including product development based on sleep medicine, health management services such as "Sleep Health Score®," various consulting services for corporations, and sleep research. Furthermore, since 2022, to improve sleep quality by addressing "physical ailments," we have focused on acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage. We operate "BrainSleep Conditioning Studio" (hereinafter "Conditioning Studio"), a new business providing sleep-focused acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatments supervised by Fureasu, which primarily operates visiting massage services for the elderly, alongside visiting nursing and home care services nationwide, offering comprehensive in-home care. In recent years, studies on the improvement of sleep by acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage have been reported. Moreover, international interest in acupuncture and moxibustion has been growing, with its recognition in the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019. Treatments combining acupuncture and moxibustion massage are expected to be effective in solving sleep problems. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of clarifying the effectiveness of Fureasu-supervised acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatments in improving sleep quality. Research Overview This research aimed to study the immediate effects on sleep from a single session of sleep-focused acupuncture and moxibustion massage, a treatment menu provided at the Conditioning Studio and supervised by Fureasu. The following methods were used: Subjects: 10 healthy men and women in their 20s to 50s (6 of whom were identified as having poor sleep)*1 Method: A crossover study*3 comparing sleep on "days with treatment*2" and "days without treatment." Measurement items: Objective indicators measured using an actigraph, electroencephalograph, and autonomic nervous system monitor; subjective indicators assessed through a VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) questionnaire using the OSA Sleep Inventory (MA version)*4. Study location: BRAIN SLEEP CONDITIONING STUDIO Futako-Tamagawa Store *1 Judged by a PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) score of 5.5 or higher, the cutoff value for self-reported sleep quality. *2 The actual 90-minute full recovery menu provided at the Conditioning Studio. *3 Comparison days were spaced at least 1 week apart. *4 A sleep assessment method that statistically scales the feeling of sleep for that day. Research Results The acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatment indicated a tendency to improve sleep quality. ① Tendency for reduced time spent awake during the night ② High evaluation for “sleep onset,” “sleep quality,” “wakefulness upon waking,” and “refreshment” Result ①: Significant tendency for objectively measured time spent awake during the night to decrease, leading to deeper sleep. Actigraph results showed a tendency for the time spent awake during the night*5 to decrease on days with treatment compared to days without treatment. *5 Time spent awake during the night: The total time spent awake between falling asleep and the final awakening the next morning (within the total sleep duration). Result ②: High evaluation tendencies for “sleep onset,” “sleep quality,” “wakefulness upon waking,” and “refreshment.” Based on the self-reported sleep assessment questionnaire, sleep was categorized into the following five factors. Among these, "1. Morning sleepiness," "2. Sleep onset and maintenance," and "4. Fatigue recovery" showed significantly higher scores on days with treatment compared to days without treatment. Morning sleepiness: How alert one feels upon waking. Sleep onset and maintenance: Ease of falling asleep and stable sleep without waking up in the middle of the night. Dreaming: Whether sleep was deep and sound. Fatigue recovery: Whether there is a feeling of fatigue recovery (refreshment) upon waking. Sleep duration: Whether sleep duration was sufficient. This research showed that a single acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatment had an immediate effect on improving sleep by reducing the time spent awake during the night, as indicated by both objective and subjective evaluations. This suggests that the acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatments at the Conditioning Studio not only have continuous improvement effects but also improve sleep from the very day of the treatment. In a post-research questionnaire administered to the study participants, responses indicated that the treatment made them feel "very relaxed" and "aligned from deep within," suggesting that acupuncture and moxibustion massage may lead to physical and mental relaxation, thereby influencing sleep. Comment from Fureasu Inc. This research once again strongly highlighted the potential of acupuncture and moxibustion massage. Currently, Fureasu provides acupuncture and moxibustion massage treatments using medical expenses (insurance) to elderly and disabled users receiving home or facility care. In addition to our current services, we will adapt our approach to sleep by providing services in a way that is easily accessible to users receiving home care. Future Development Based on these research results, Fureasu will introduce the Conditioning Studio's treatment menu to its nursing care facilities (small-scale multi-functional home care facilities and medical-specialized long-term care facilities). This will be implemented in stages, starting with treatments for staff such as nurses and caregivers working at the facilities, and eventually expanding to facility users. Additionally, BrainSleep products have been introduced at four newly opened facilities with the aim of improving the sleep quality of facility users. Through both treatments and products, we aim to provide total care for the sleep environment at these facilities. Introduced Products “BrainSleep Pillow” In addition to the "golden 90 minutes" when the deepest non-REM sleep occurs, maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity within the bedding is crucial for achieving quality sleep. The "BrainSleep Pillow" uses unique materials, with over 90% air layers, preventing heat and moisture from accumulating during sleep and creating a comfortable sleep environment. “BrainSleep Mattress Overlay” Made from the same material as the "BrainSleep Pillow," it offers excellent breathability and supports the correction of distorted hips and spine during sleep, helping to alleviate discomfort, simply by placing it over your current bedding. 【Store Overview】 BrainSleep Conditioning Studio is an acupuncture and moxibustion massage studio specializing in sleep. Specialists with national qualifications in acupuncture and moxibustion massage and expertise in sleep perform treatments based on medical evidence. By regulating the autonomic nervous system, we aim to improve sleep quality from the very first day of treatment. In addition to in-store treatments, we also offer home care suggestions to support customers' well-being in their daily lives. ■BRAIN SLEEP CONDITIONING STUDIO Futako-Tamagawa Store 2F Futako Tamagawa Rise S.C. Terrace Market (2F Futako Tamagawa Tsutaya Electrics), 1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo ■BRAIN SLEEP CONDITIONING STUDIO Minami Aoyama Store Aoyama Yasuda Building 3F, 2-27-22 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo https://conditioning.brain-sleep.com/ About Fureasu Inc. Company Name: Fureasu Inc. Established: April 2002 Headquarters: A-PLACE Gotanda 3F, 2-27-3 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Representative Director and CEO: Hiroshi Sawato Brand Website: https://fureasu.jp/ Business Overview: Fureasu primarily provides in-home acupuncture and moxibustion massage services for the elderly, along with visiting nursing, visiting care, and facility-based care services across Japan, offering comprehensive in-home services. Currently, the company has 433 locations nationwide (as of end of March 2024) and provides visiting massage to approximately 19,000 users annually. In March 2019, Fureasu became the first company in the "in-home massage industry" to go public, establishing a system to provide its in-home acupuncture and moxibustion massage services to as many people as possible throughout the country.
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