Got Insomnia? You are not alone!
Get your answers and solutions right here and start sleeping again with these tips!
Insomnia is a common problem where people find themselves waking up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may provide you with a clue.
In Traditional Chinese medicine, insomnia is caused by deficiencies of yin energy “blood of the heart”. Yin energy is needed for stability, otherwise, the mind becomes unstable and begins to wander. Symptoms associated with insomnia can result.
Waking up at the same time every night? Find out which “organ system” may be weak.
If you are waking at the same time every night, this could indicate an imbalance in a specific organ system/energy complex. Traditional Chinese medicine has developed a “clock”, shown below that charts the peak activity time for each organ/energy complex.
CHINESE “ORGAN CLOCK”
Waking times Organ affected
1am-3am Liver
3am-5am Lungs
5am-7am Large Intestine
7am-9am Stomach
9am-11am Spleen-pancreas
11am-1pm Heart Mind
1pm-3pm Small Intestine
3pm-5pm Bladder
5pm-7pm Kidney
7pm-9pm Heart Governor
9pm-11pm Triple Heater
11pm-1am Gall Bladder
Knowing which organ is potentially weak can help you pinpoint the organs that need support. Organ support can be in the form of many, including specific supplements, herbs, homeopathics, glandulars (concentrates) or even “energy” work like acupuncture.
Start sleeping again with these tips
- Get 20 minutes of early morning sunlight. This will activate the release of a neurotransmitter, serotonin to then convert to melatonin at night. Sunglasses off for this to have any positive effect on sleep.
- Cut out stimulants. Avoid caffeinated beverages (coffee, pop, tea), especially past noon.
- To avoid a possible `hypoglycemic` situation in the middle of the night, have a quick protein shake or spoonful of almond butter before bed
- Avoid foods containing tyramine: bacon, cheese, chocolate, eggplant, ham, potatoes, sugar, spinach, tomatoes, and wine too close to bedtime. These foods release norepinephrine, a brain stimulant.
- Take 500 mg of magnesium at bedtime.
- If you wake frequently to urinate, stop drinking 2 hours before bedtime.
- Take time one or two hours before bed to write down all the “to do’s” for the next day. Learn to put worries out of your mind.
- Avoid using your telephone, television, or computer for at least one hour before bedtime. Instead, read a relaxing, easy book.
- Take a hot bath before bed.
- Take time for meditation before you retire.
- Go to bed only when you are sleepy. Ideally 10 pm.
- Sleep in complete darkness. Cover your digital alarm clock if you have one.
- Cover yourself with a heavy blanket. This is what I do and it works!
- To enhance yin energy, support your liver by incorporating these liver-friendly foods – garlic, legumes, onions, eggs, lemons, limes, apples, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage, artichokes, beets, carrots, and dandelion leaves. Helpful Herbs include turmeric, cinnamon, and licorice.
There you have it. Start sleeping again with these tips!
Imagine, falling asleep with ease, waking up refreshed, and motivated to have your best day!
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