Insomnia; Sleeplessness
"Sleep is the best meditation" (the Dalai Lama) Insomnia affects millions of people; the sufferers themselves, their families, and even entire populations. Some struggle to fall asleep, some wake up several times in the middle of the night, and some wake up too early and can't fall back asleep. People who suffer from insomnia usually […]
“Sleep is the best meditation” (the Dalai Lama)
Insomnia affects millions of people; the sufferers themselves, their families, and even entire populations. Some struggle to fall asleep, some wake up several times in the middle of the night, and some wake up too early and can’t fall back asleep.
People who suffer from insomnia usually wake up tired.
Insomnia can affect people who go through highly stressful events, who consume too many beverages
containing caffeine or alcohol, and people who suffer from pain or other physical discomfort.
Once the above factors are addressed, these people will no longer suffer from insomnia.
Chronic insomnia affects quality of life, mood, memory and cognitive function, and it impairs performance at work and in daily routine.
Doctors will typically prescribe sleeping pills that affect neurotransmitters in the brain.
In addition to the possibility of developing physical and psychological dependence, long-term use of these medications often
produces side effects such as residual effects of the pill lasting into the day (fatigue), cognitive impairment,
weakened and impaired motor skills, and as a result… insomnia that returns.
Some people take melatonin, the body’s natural hormone that encourages and produces sleep, but melatonin has side effects such as: daytime grogginess, lowering body temperature, and causing excessive dreaming.
Insomnia – treatment in Chinese medicine
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), sleep occurs when the day’s Yang energy moves inward into the body, into the internal organs – that is, into the Yin energy of the night.
The body’s Yin energy is cooling and restorative; the blood is cleansed in the liver and the body relaxes and recharges with new energy. This is the time when we dream and scan the brain in our unconscious part.
We treat insomnia by needling points on the body that release excess heat from the body, calming the mind, body and spirit.
We sense which meridians and organs are involved, form a diagnosis, and treat accordingly.
In most cases, improvement is felt already after the first treatment. But it’s important to note: avoid what’s harmful – avoid bad habits that affect and cause insomnia, such as caffeinated beverages or stimulants, and disturbing, obsessive thoughts, etc.
Of course, if the insomnia results from a pain issue, we will treat the root of the problem and the pain.
Sometimes we will recommend an herbal formula that promotes sleep by calming and strengthening weak meridians.
At “Machat Ruach,” the complementary medicine clinic, treatments are given tailored individually to different types of problems
including: fertility problems, issues around the menstrual cycle, back pain, knee pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sleep problems, hormonal problems, skin problems (psoriasis, seborrhea, eczema), ear infections, colds, coughing, asthma, breathing issues, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, menstrual pain, sinusitis, stress, excess weight and more.