Although many people understand the importance of sleep during the Zi and Chou periods, poor sleep and insomnia can interfere with rest during this time period, seriously affecting quality of life. People today are as familiar with insomnia as they are with the common cold and fever, particularly elder people and urban populations. Poor sleep has always been a common problem that stands in the way of health.
According to Chinese medicine, insomnia is a disease caused by emotional and dietary injuries, by illness (including during recovery) and old age, or insufficient congenital healthy Qi, and heart deficiency with timidity, resulting in a failure to nourish the heart spirit (Shén) or restlessness, thus affecting sleep. It mainly manifests as inadequate sleep time and depth, sleep that does not relieve fatigue, or restore physical strength and energy. In mild cases, patients have difficulty falling asleep or lack deep sleep, waking up at intervals. In some cases, they may be unable to fall sleep again after waking up; in severe cases, patients are awake all night.
In addition to medicine, there are many other methods for insomnia in Chinese medicine, such as dietary therapy, herbal tea, massage and foot baths.
Herbal tea for calming the mind
Arborvitae Seed Tea
15 g Arborvitae Seed (Băi Zĭ Rén, Semen Platycladi) (fried) is pounded before being steeped in boiling water and drunk as a tea.
It can nourish the heart and calm the mind, and moisten the intestines to relieve constipation, and is most suitable for palpitations due to blood deficiency, insomnia, night sweat and other diseases.
Self-massage
Massaging the abdomen
Take the supine position with the two palms overlapping. With hands centered on Shenque (RN 8, the umbilicus), massage the mid-abdomen and lower abdomen clockwise until a sensation of abdominal heat is generated. Perform this for about 2 minutes each time, twice a day.
Acupoint-massage
Before bed, acupoint massage can be applied. For instance, press Laogong (PC 8) for 2 minutes each time; knead Shenmen (HT 7) until a sensation of soreness and distension is generated, about 30 times on each hand; massage Neiguan (PC 6) with the same manipulation method as HT 7. Take the supine position and slightly bend the calves. With the feet on the surface of the bed, rub Yongquan (KI 1) up and down 30 times on the surface of the mattress. Anmian point can also be pressed and kneaded with the tip of middle finger for 2 minutes.
Foot bath
Take 30 g of Magnetite (Cí Shí, Magnetitum), Chrysanthemum Flower (Jú Huā, Flos Chrysanthemi), Scutellaria Root (Huáng Qín, Radix Scutellariae) and Fleeceflower Stem (Yè Jiāo Téng, Caulis Polygoni Multiflori) and decoct in water. The traditional method is to boil once, simmering for 40 minutes, saving the dregs and setting the liquid aside to drink later. Add more water, bring to a boil, and simmer again for 30 minutes. Pour the decoction (the liquid from both boils) into the bathtub. Soak your feet in the hot fluid for 15~30 minutes, once a day before bed.
Herbal pillow
18 g of Mulberry Leaf (Sāng Yè, Folium Mori), 30 g of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (fried), 30 g of Flos Chrysanthemi and 20 g of Cassia Seed (Jué Míng Zĭ, Semen Cassiae) (fried) are ground into powder and mixed evenly. Then the powder is wrapped in gauze and sewn up into a small pillow before putting it into the larger pillow used for sleeping. The medicine inside should be changed every 15 days. This can clear liver heat and improve vision, nourish the heart and calm the mind.
