Insomnia is a form of sleep disorder that refers to an interference in normal sleep patterns. A person with insomnia will experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Symptoms of insomnia include frequently waking up during the middle of the night and having trouble falling back asleep. In Eastern medicine, insomnia is recognized as an imbalance of energy, also known as the yin and yang qi.
Sleep is considered to be a part of the natural rhythm of yin and yang qi in the body. The role of yin and yang qi in the body is one of opposite roles. The yang qi functions during the day to fuel the body’s activities and keep us warm and alert. Meanwhile, the yin qi takes over during the night to provide a cooling, quiet and nourishing energy for the body. The yin qi helps our bodies slow down in preparation for the night’s sleep. However, a disruption in the yin qi can cause an imbalance and therefore result in insomnia.
Some factors behind yin and yang qi imbalance:
- Dietary habits including heavy consumption of food, caffeine and alcohol
- Emotional burdens such as anger and extreme happiness
- Mental and physical exhaustion
- Prolonged illness
Some factors behind the cause of insomnia in Eastern medicine:
- Liver fire
- Heart qi deficiency
- Heart fire
- Spleen qi deficiency
Insomnia, though may seem harmless at first, can develop into a much more serious health issue if left untreated. Luckily, Eastern medicine has been observed to show significant improvements in sleep through acupuncture and herbal medicine. With the ability to cure irregular sleep patterns, Eastern medicine is an effective, safe and reliable alternative of treatment. To learn more about how Eastern medicine helps treat insomnia, read our case study: http://www.greenleafclinic.ca/category/the-case-report/