Ahh, sleep. That precious commodity that no one ever seems to get enough of. While most sleep problems can be solved naturally, like going to bed a little earlier (or later) or doing some pre-bedtime yoga, for some people, their insomnia is so bad that they need medication. These people usually buy Ambien or Zolpidem and get themselves back on a healthy sleep schedule.
It’s not, however, healthy to use these sleep aids long-term. But when people stop using Ambien, for example, they often find that they are again left to toss and turn in bed.
I’ve recently done some research about how Chinese medicine can help treat insomnia. Here are a few of the highlights:
• Insomnia is usually a symptom of a larger problem, like an imbalance or dysfunction in natural flow of energy (chi) or in the organs (heart, spleen, lungs, etc.). Treating the symptom alone without attending to the actually problem will not permanently solve the problem.
• The best way to treat insomnia and its underlying problems is to use a combination of natural herbs and acupuncture. Suan Zao Ren is one of the most popular insomnia treating herbs. This herb has been known to heal unbalanced heart and liver functions, thereby helping with the insomnia as well. For people with kidney or heart disharmony (particularly among the elderly and peri-menopausal women), the tian wang bu xin dan herbal formula is recommended. Acupuncture helps patients with insomnia who also suffer from back pain, fibromyalgia, and depression.
• Another important point: Herbs are not magical. Sometimes they need to be used not just in conjunction with acupuncture or acupressure, but in conjunction with other therapeutic practices. Speaking with a therapist is recommended for people who suffer from insomnia, as well as regular massages, particularly traditional treatments such as shiatsu, reflexology, and Thai yoga massage.