Insomnia

In today's fast-paced stressed-out world insomnia and sleep disorders are on the rise, and the proverbial good night's sleep seems more elusive than ever. Sleep disturbances can be acute or chronic and stem from multiple factors, such as stress, anxiety, pain, allergies, digestive problems, cardiovascular problems, hormonal imbalances, or medications disrupting a healthy sleep cycle. People with insomnia may have trouble falling and staying asleep, wake up too early, or have easily-disturbed or restless sleep. Depending on symptom severity, insomnia can be a debilitating condition greatly affecting quality of life.

While Western medicine deals with sleep disturbances through the use of pharmaceuticals, which have various side-effects and can be addictive in the long run, Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach to the matter. According to Chinese medicine, all of different forms of sleep disturbance point to deeper, underlying imbalances that must be addressed so that you can get a normal night’s sleep.

Chinese medicine looks at all specific aspects of your health, such as the particular pattern of sleep disturbance, your emotional health and the effects of stress on your life, and the condition of your physical health to determine the underlying condition at the root of your insomnia. Once these factors are examined and identified and a diagnosis established, an individualized treatment plan, usually including acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy is formulated, and suggestions for relevant lifestyle modifications, such as healthy bedtime habits and relaxation techniques to restore a normal sleep cycle are discussed.

Chinese herbal therapy in particular has been proven very effective at treating insomnia and various sleep disturbances. Unlike conventional sleep aids which can have long-lasting tranquilizing effects such as grogginess or fatigue, Chinese custom-tailored herbal prescriptions, typically containing herbs that calm the mind and relax the body while addressing the underlying condition contributing to the pattern of insomnia, help improve quality and duration of sleep with no side effects.

Furthermore, because of the holistic nature of Chinese medical approach which does not just focus on symptoms, but rather aims to address the root disharmony causing the condition, regular treatments help achieve not only better and more restful sleep, but overall improvement in physical and mental health, energy levels and sense of well-being.