Sleep is Needed to be Healthy & Well
The body requires sufficient periodic rest in order to permit the immune system to 'clean house" and repair damaged tissues. This can be accomplished only when the autonomous nervous system switches over to the parasympathetic branch, as happens during periods of rest & relaxation. Rest is achieved by slowing down the body, deepening he breath, balancing the organs energies, and emptying the mind; all these factors prompt parasympathetic responses & endocrine balance. (Chinese Health & Healing by Daniel Read)
Sleeping Tips
Sleeping Tips
- Sleep in a pitch dark room
- Get rid of the noises
- Go to sleep around the same time each night and get up around the same time each day
- Don't exercise right before bed, don't drink caffeine before bed, don't eat immediately before going to bed, don't eat in bed.
- Warm drinks may help you relax and prepare your body & mind for sleep. Remember how your mom gave you a glass of warm milk before bed? Try drinking a glass of milk - it really can help you fall asleep.
- Take a warm bath, or just soak your feet in warm water prior to going to bed.
- Rub and massage your feet, especially the balls of your feet.
Different Types of Insomnia
Difficulty Falling Asleep (From AcupunctureMN.com)
This sleep condition is usually related to an excess condition of the Liver or Liver and Gall Bladder. People will lie awake, tossing and turning for hours.
Waking Up at a Specific Time Each Night
If you wake up at a certain time every night, such as at three o’clock in the morning, it is probable that there is an imbalance in the organ system that is "highlighted" at that time of day based on the circadian clock. In Chinese medicine theory, the body’s energy (Chi) circulates through the twelve principal meridians over a 24-hour period so if there is something happening at a certain time each day, it could mean there is an imbalance, an energy flow problem, or an emotional concern associated with that organ or meridian. For example, 3:00 AM is associated with the liver, and the emotion associated with the liver is anger and stress, so it could be that unexpressed anger or stress is triggering Liver Chi stagnation or Liver Fire, and waking you up.
Waking Up Easily
Many people can fall asleep easily, but then they wake up later and find it difficult to go back to sleep again. They may be awake for an hour or so, or may not go back to sleep at all. These people have a deficiency pattern, often a Heart/Spleen deficiency.
Dream-disturbed sleep
Nightmares normally indicate a disorder of the Gall Bladder meridian. Dreams in which we go over and over the same ground, walking in a maze, reliving aspects of our jobs or our relationships generally are due to a Spleen/Heart imbalance. People with this problem say, "I can’t shut my mind off."
This sleep condition is usually related to an excess condition of the Liver or Liver and Gall Bladder. People will lie awake, tossing and turning for hours.
Waking Up at a Specific Time Each Night
If you wake up at a certain time every night, such as at three o’clock in the morning, it is probable that there is an imbalance in the organ system that is "highlighted" at that time of day based on the circadian clock. In Chinese medicine theory, the body’s energy (Chi) circulates through the twelve principal meridians over a 24-hour period so if there is something happening at a certain time each day, it could mean there is an imbalance, an energy flow problem, or an emotional concern associated with that organ or meridian. For example, 3:00 AM is associated with the liver, and the emotion associated with the liver is anger and stress, so it could be that unexpressed anger or stress is triggering Liver Chi stagnation or Liver Fire, and waking you up.
Waking Up Easily
Many people can fall asleep easily, but then they wake up later and find it difficult to go back to sleep again. They may be awake for an hour or so, or may not go back to sleep at all. These people have a deficiency pattern, often a Heart/Spleen deficiency.
Dream-disturbed sleep
Nightmares normally indicate a disorder of the Gall Bladder meridian. Dreams in which we go over and over the same ground, walking in a maze, reliving aspects of our jobs or our relationships generally are due to a Spleen/Heart imbalance. People with this problem say, "I can’t shut my mind off."
Chinese Herbs for Insomnia (From LiveStrong)
While there are many medicinal ways to cure insomnia, but another way is using pressure points to help induce sleep.
- Suan Zao Ren - this is the most popular Chinese herbal mixture for insomnia. Composed of a half a dozen herbs, this mixture is taken in a warm water infusion or tea. Also known as the Zizyphus Combination, Suan Zao Ren treats several of the body's imbalances by supporting yin and building blood in the kidneys, according to The International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. The effect is soothing, allowing for the quick onset of sleep, especially for those suffering from anxiety and a restless spirit, patients with insomnia due to a Liver/Heart imbalance or Spleen/Heart disorder, such as the overworked students.
- Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan - The International Chinese Medical Journal of Daytona notes in a 2003 review of insomnia that this treatment is especially useful for those suffering from nervousness and vivid, disturbing dreams. Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is an old and well-studied Chinese herbal formula that is often used for Kidney/Heart imbalances. Several studies have proven that it can help people to sleep deeply and stay asleep longer. People who take this formula tend to feel more refreshed and energetic in the morning. It can also be used to treat the nervous exhaustion that comes with depression.
- Bai Zi Ren - This is a sweet herb that rivals Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan in its ability to balance yin and heart. In fact, these two herbs are often used together, according to Yifan Yang MD, author of "Chinese Herbal Medicines." Restlessness, nightsweats and anxiety are softened through this herb's balancing properties. As with all herbs, it is recommended to see a licensed practitioner as opposed to experimenting with these herbs yourself, as the tenets of Chinese medicine are not simply linked to symptoms, but to personality, mood and other individual variables.
While there are many medicinal ways to cure insomnia, but another way is using pressure points to help induce sleep.
Guide to Drowsy Driving
Did you know that 10% of truck and bus drivers admit to a near miss while driving due to fatigue, and about 13% of all drivers admit to dozing off at the wheel at least once a month? Healthy sleep and safe driving are of course closely linked. This Guide to Drowsy Driving covers all the worrying statistics but also includes useful information to help people avoid drowsy driving.
Sleep Disorders and Complementary Alternatives from NIH
This fact sheet from that National Institute of Health provides basic information on sleep disorders and what the science says about the effectiveness of CAM practices people use as sleep aids. It includes information on melatonin, relaxation techniques, chamomile tea, kava, and L-tryptophan supplements. If you are considering a CAM therapy for sleep problems, this information can help you talk with your health care provider
Did you know that 10% of truck and bus drivers admit to a near miss while driving due to fatigue, and about 13% of all drivers admit to dozing off at the wheel at least once a month? Healthy sleep and safe driving are of course closely linked. This Guide to Drowsy Driving covers all the worrying statistics but also includes useful information to help people avoid drowsy driving.
Sleep Disorders and Complementary Alternatives from NIH
This fact sheet from that National Institute of Health provides basic information on sleep disorders and what the science says about the effectiveness of CAM practices people use as sleep aids. It includes information on melatonin, relaxation techniques, chamomile tea, kava, and L-tryptophan supplements. If you are considering a CAM therapy for sleep problems, this information can help you talk with your health care provider