Qn: I have been having this problem for the last few years, and I don't remember when was the last time I had slept soundly since I started university, which was 12 years ago.

I usually sleep around 11pm to 12am and wake up about 7am-7.30am for work. While I would usually be able to fall asleep, I realised that I would be dreaming towards the end of my sleep, ie, just before I wake up. This happens everyday without fail (I am not joking. I cannot remember when was the last time I didn't dream). I would also usually be able to remember my dreams when I woke up, and this became more pronounced during the last few years as my dreams become more vivid, and I would know that I am dreaming sometimes. I end up waking up feeling tired, as if I had not slept for the past 6-7 hours, with eye bags and dark eye circles as a result.

I have tried whatever I can to make sure that I can have quality sleep: reducing activities before sleep, having routine sleeping hours...but I just can't seem to be able to avoid having dreams. And this is taking a toll on my daily life, as I feel tired throughout the day, though I can still function at work and last through the day until bedtime. The eye bags and dark eye circles have given me a sickly look, though superficial but nevertheless led me to think if there is really something wrong with me or my health.

Please advise what I can do, as I cannot imagine continuing this type of dream-sleep habit for the rest of my life. I really appreciate your assistance. Thank you in advance!

Pauline Wan

Ans: Excessive dreams is one of the possible causes of insomnia.

TCM views excessive dreams as the manifestation of internal imbalance in our body. The ancient TCM classic, Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon (Huang Di Neijing) mentioned that lack of "Qi" can lead to imbalance and disrupt the regular interchanging of "Yin" and "Yang". The "mind" (Shen) wanders, which results in excessive dreams. The causes for excessive dreams in TCM are:

Emotional disorder, which impairs internal organs, depletes body essence and vital energy and disrupts the soul and mentality.

Deficiency of "Yin" and blood means that the heart and the liver cannot be nourished, which leads to the formation of "internal fire" or internal heat.

The liver and the gallbladder, which house the mind, are affected by the accumulation of heat and phlegm in the body.

Over-exertion of the mind and body will also affect the heart and the kidney, leading to imbalance of the internal organs.

Improper diet habits, such as overeating during dinner, can impair the spleen and cause inversion of the stomach "Qi", which in turn leads to perturbance of the mind.

All the above factors may cause one not to be in a calm state of mind, leading to excessive dreams. To improve the condition, one may start by rectifying all the unhealthy lifestyle and working habits and do some self-adjustment to one's state of mind through appropriate exercises. Consulting a TCM Physician for treatment is another option.

There are two major therapies that TCM physicians use to treat insomnia caused by excessive dreams; prescribed herbal medication and acupuncture. These 2 treatments help to smoothen the flow of "Qi" and blood, restore balance to "Yin" & "Yang", regulate the functions of internal organs and increase blood circulation to the brain.

These treatments help in restoring internal balance to our body, thus addressing the problem of excessive dreams. For your condition, it is advisable that you consult a TCM physician for a more in-depth consultation.

Answer contributed by:

Senior Physician Yu Zhe Kai, who practices at Eu Yan Sang TCM Clinic at Plaza Singapura.

Each individual has differing conditions and body constitutions that require individualised treatment and prescription. It is therefore advisable that one always consults a physician when one is not feeling well. In no circumstances should one self-administer any of the above-mentioned herbs.

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Catch a 'Western' doctor's take on Pauline's condition next Monday, Apr 6, in AsiaOne Health.

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