Health Begins with Good Sleep

Sleep is the best medicine for repairing our body. When we were sick as children, often just sleeping it off would make us feel better. This is because we didn’t have many worries back then, so our sleep quality was good and the restorative affect was strong.

As adults, we have more worries, sleep quality declines and over time, various health problems find their was to us. So good health starts with good sleep.

Many people struggle with insomnia. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), different symptoms of insomnia call for different treatment approaches to improve sleep quality. For example:

· Lying awake for a long time before falling asleep is often related to chronic stress.
  · Needing to listen to the radio or podcasts to fall asleep may be linked to blood production function.
  · Falling asleep but having many dreams is associated with digestive system function.
  · Waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom relates to fluid metabolism issues.
  · Sleeping without trouble but waking up with a stiff body is connected to nervous system tension.

There are other patterns as well, but I won’t list them all here.

When was the last time you woke up feeling fully refreshed and ready to embrace a new day? Do you still remember how good that felt?

Acupuncture and herbal medicine can help address the issues mentioned above. However, daily self-care is also very important — such as practicing yoga or Pilates, and drinking caffeine-free herbal teas to help calm the nervous system. I like to brew a tea with rosebuds, chrysanthemum flowers, and goji berries. This blend helps relax the nervous system and also supports bile secretion, which improves digestion. When sleep improves, immunity naturally rises.

Wishing everyone the joy of a deep, restful sleep during this chilly season, and may you wake up full of positive energy to greet each new day.