Most people experience insomnia at some point in their lives, whether it’s as a result of increased stress or due to a significant lifestyle change, like having a baby or moving a house.
Often, changing your lifestyle habits and addressing any issues associated with diet, exercise, stress, or medical conditions can restore restful sleep for many people.
If these measures don’t work, however, or for those searching for alternative solutions to sleepless nights that don’t involve prescribed drugs, Traditional Chinese Medicine is an increasingly popular method today.
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is the inability to obtain sufficient sleep, difficulty falling asleep, or being unable to sleep consistently throughout the night. Whatever the cause, this generally leads to fatigue, low energy and diminished concentration throughout the day.
When sleep debt builds up over the course of time, it has also been shown to lead to a number of health conditions, including mental health issues relating to increased stress and anxiety.
Understanding Insomnia Through Traditional Chinese Medicine
The ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers some insight into the varying causes of sleeplessness.
From a TCM perspective, insomnia is a manifestation of an internal disharmony and a spirit of restlessness. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments aim to resume the harmonious function of the body’s organs, ensuring that a natural flow of energy is achieved, as well as an overall balance of the body.
How Does It Work?
Acupuncture and herbs are the most common TCM therapies for treating insomnia. Acupuncture consists of stimulating points on the body through the skin with tiny, sterile needles, while practitioners also prescribe herbs made of plant and mineral products.
These herbs are considered to be powerful agents that induce certain side effects within the body. They can come in premade pill or liquid form, much like modern-day drugs, but many practitioners will recommend brewing fresh herbs with tea.
You can find many of these Chinese herbs in London and throughout the UK if you look hard enough, but most reputable practitioners should also be able to help you source reliable products for the purpose of improving sleep.
As many TCM practitioners believe that an individual’s lifestyle, body and mind are one system, they may also offer broader treatment plans to improve your sleep. For instance, this could include anything from meditation and Tai Chi to yoga and pilates.
Reducing Stress to Improve Sleep
Even if you do not acknowledge TCM’s original philosophies, practices within this field have been shown to help alleviate stress, which is a leading cause of insomnia for many people.
Chinese acupuncture, massage therapy and Tai Chi, for example, have proven to alleviate stress symptoms by releasing endorphins into the body. This is a natural painkiller and can help induce relaxation and sleep.
By improving circulation, TCM practices can also bring fresh oxygen to muscles, reduce waste products and enhance natural processes that can be fundamental to good sleep.
Achieve Better Sleep with Acubody
Whether you’d like to inquire about our bodywork, massage or TCM treatments, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
If you’re looking to build a holistic approach to better health and wellbeing, improve your sleep at night, or simply find effective Chinese herbs in London to implement into your health regime, we can help!
