Sleep easy with TCM remedies

Sleep easy with TCM remedies

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), sleep is part of the natural rhythm of yin and yang in the body.

Yin and yang are opposites: When we sleep, yin is the dominant force in the body. In the day, when we are active, yang dominates. Insomnia is a sign of a disruption to one's natural rhythm of yin and yang.

Insomnia can arise from a secondary cause, such as chronic pain, said Ms Pansy Yeo, a TCM practitioner from Chong Hoe Health Products Chinese Medical Store.

Otherwise, TCM practitioners believe insomnia is caused by emotional upheavals, an improper diet, physical exhaustion and a weak constitution following prolonged illness.

Ms Yeo said the ideal time to sleep at night, according to the meridian clock, is between 11pm and 1am.

This period corresponds with the gall bladder meridian, which plays a role in clearing out toxic by-products of the body's metabolic processes, she explained.

One is even encouraged to take a short nap between 11am and 1pm, which corresponds with the heart meridian. The heart houses a person's shen (spirit), which governs sleep, she added.

Insomnia can be traced to the following five syndromes:

LIVER QI STAGNATION LEADING TO HEAT

Causes: An outburst of anger - which is associated with the liver - can affect the flow of qi and cause it to stagnate in the liver.

Qi stagnation will result in poor blood circulation to the heart, affecting sleep patterns.

With qi stagnation, heat or "fire" accumulates in the liver, leading to symptoms affecting the upper body, since heat rises naturally. Symptoms: Headaches, rising eye pressure, high blood pressure, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), a bitter sensation in the mouth and a red tongue.

The person may have difficulty falling asleep and, when he does, experiences lots of dreams, a sign of an overstimulated mind.

Food remedy: Make tea with chrysanthemum flowers and peppermint leaves to improve the flow of qi in the liver.

PHLEGM HEAT

Causes: Over-indulgence in food or irregular eating habits may cause poor digestion. Likewise, a diet high in fats and sugar allows dampness to accumulate in the body and cause qi stagnation. Untreated dampness progresses to become phlegm, which causes internal heat to build up.

Symptoms: Indigestion, stomach distension and, possibly, acid reflux. The person may also experience dizziness, heaviness of the head and discomfort of the chest. He becomes irritable and suffers from insomnia.

Food remedy: Consult a TCM physician who may give you a prescription that includes herbs such as tangerine peel, pinellia tuber and poria.

HEART AND SPLEEN DEFICIENCY

Causes: The earlier syndrome of liver "fire" will affect the function of the spleen, which in TCM is believed to govern digestion and absorption of food.

When the spleen fails to absorb enough nutrients to nourish the heart "shen", a person's mental health is also affected.

Symptoms: The person may find it difficult to fall asleep and, even when he does, he is easily roused.

He experiences forgetfulness, heart palpitations and gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal distension and loose stools.

Food remedy: Prepare pork rib soup with Chinese yam, poria and dried longans.

HEART AND KIDNEY DISHARMONY

Causes: When the kidney is deficient in yin (the element responsible for cooling organs) because of age or end-stage illnesses, it fails to regulate yang (the element linked to heat) in the heart.

As a result, the normal rhythm of the yin and yang in the body is disrupted.

Symptoms: Heart palpitations, giddiness, tinnitus, night sweats, as well as aching back and knees.

Fertility may also be affected if women experience irregular periods and men experience involuntary ejaculation.

Food remedy: Make tea with dendrobium that has been double-boiled for three hours. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon powder before serving.

HEART AND GALL BLADDER QI DEFICIENCY

Causes: The first two syndromes of liver "fire" and phlegm heat can eventually lead to this.

Symptoms: The person will feel jittery, perspire easily, suffer from heart palpitations, shortness of breath and insomnia.

Food remedy: Cook porridge with one Chinese date, 3g of astragalus root, 3g of codonopsis root and 8g of poria.

SLEEP-PROMOTING TEA

INGREDIENTS

15g poria

10g dried lily bulbs

10g lotus seeds

6g spine date seeds

6g dried longans

3 red dates

3 dried chrysanthemum flowers

1 dried French rose

1 tsp brown sugar, or as desired

½ tsp dried lavender

METHOD

Bring 300ml water to boil in a pot.

Add all ingredients except chrysanthemum flowers, French rose and lavender.

Lower the fire and simmer for 20 minutes.

Finally, add all three types of flowers, and let the tea steep before serving.

Note: Take a whiff of the flowers when these are placed into the tea as the fragrance is regarded as a form of aromatherapy.

SERVES ONE

SOURCE: MS PANSY YEO, TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONER FROM CHONG HOE HEALTH PRODUCTS CHINESE MEDICAL STORE

Acupoint massages

Learn how to do these acupoint massages to release physical tension and regulate the flow of qi, helping to relieve symptoms of insomnia.

BAIHUI

Imagine a line across the head that connects the highest point of the tip of one ear to the other. Then, imagine another line from the middle of the eyes to the back of the head.

1. Locate the intersection of these two imaginary lines on the head.

2. Tap this area lightly with three fingers for between 50 and 100 times.

JIANJING

Identify a point between the end of one shoulder and the midpoint of the neck.

3. Massage this point, which corresponds to the gall bladder meridian, with a thumb for approximately five minutes.

4. If it is difficult to identify this point on your own, get someone to do the massage for you.

Note: Before attempting this massage, pregnant women, weak elderly people and those who are sick should approach their physicians.

KAITIANMEN

5 and 6. From a point between the eyebrows, move the fingers of both hands upwards towards the forehead.

Do this 50 to 100 times.

MOSHUANG LIU

7 and 8. Start by placing both thumbs on the inner side of the eyebrows, and massage along the brow to rub out any sore spots.

End with both thumbs on the outer brow.

Do this 50 to 100 times.

SHIMIAN XUE

9. Identify the point in the middle of the heel. Massage this point with a thumb for 50 to 100 times.

SOURCE: MS PANSY YEO, TCM PRACTITIONER AT CHONG HOE HEALTH PRODUCTS CHINESE MEDICAL STORE


This article was first published on Oct 6, 2015.
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