In traditional Chinese medicine, the shen (spirit, consciousness) resides in the brain and heart. During the day, the shen rises into the head, stimulating the brain. At night, it sinks down, into to the heart, where it sleeps, rejuvenating the body mind. Insomnia is the inability to fall or stay asleep. There are two types of insomnia, acute and chronic. Acute (sudden, recent) insomnia is relatively easy to cure via supplements, herbs, meditation, etc. Chronic insomnia is more difficult to cure as all chronic long-lasting diseases take months and years to not only develop but also cure.
Sleeping is a function of blood, energy, and the five major organ systems: (1) Spleen controls digestion, transformation of food into blood (2) Heart stores the spirit, circulates the blood (3) Lungs purify, oxygenate the blood (4) Liver purifies the blood and (5) Kidneys purify blood, store jing.
Blood, protein and fat enable the heart (blood, nutrient rich organ) to hold, anchor the spirit. Too much, especially animal, fried foods, in the extreme, tend to thicken the blood, which in turn, thickens clogs and weakens the liver (stores, cleanses, removes excess protein, fat, cholesterol, impurities, etc. and releases the blood). Less protein, fat, cholesterol, etc. are cleansed, removed more stays in the blood (clots, high cholesterol), arteries (plaque, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, etc.), skin, organs, etc. Clogged arteries reduce blood flow to the heart making it difficult to fall asleep. Excess fat hardens, tenses the body, liver, muscles making it difficult to stay asleep.
Too little protein and fat, in the extreme, tends to weaken, thin the blood, which in turn, weakens the heart's ability to anchor, hold the spirit during the night, allowing it to roam, rise up into the head stimulating thinking (hot), dreaming (hot) and or wakefulness (hot).
Too much cleansing (salads, tropical fruits, juices, cold drinks) and or too little building, in the extreme tends to weaken digestion. Digestion warms and dries the body, lungs. Weak digestion (see spleen, Chapter 7) cools and dampens (creates excess mucous) the lungs, nose, sinuses, which shortens and disrupts the breath (coughing, snoring, hacking, sleep apnea). This is one reason why spices (hot, aromatic) are added to the diet to not only dry excess fluids, mucous but also open the sinuses, allowing the breath to flow freely. For cold, conditions reduce cold, damp foods (milk, ice cream, salads, tropical fruits, juices, cold drinks).
The excessive consumption of chocolate, coffee, caffeine and alcohol overheats the body as does overeating and late dinners. It is hard to sleep when the body is overheated via stimulants, excessive digestion. and or impacted intestines (intestinal heat).
Jing (sexual essence) fuels all function. Excessive sex drains jing and does overwork, caffeine, etc. which in turn, weakens the heart's ability to store the shen. Jing is moistening, cooling, as is sleeping.
Poor posture, misalignment, injury, excessive emotions, thoughts and or environment (climate, electromagnetic radiation, noise, etc.) can also be a cause. Relaxing, sleeping is difficult if you are overheated, have too much energy: work all day long, in the sun, sleep in a room that is hot, damp, or eat drink too many building, hot foods, drinks. Regular exercise dissipates excess heat, energy, which relaxes, cools the body. Proper diet also relaxes the body.
Long-term, severe insomnia takes time (months, years), discipline, and patience to cure. .The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended. Vegetarian meals (ideal for dinner) are less heating. Fruit is cooling, and makes an excellent nighttime snack, although not too late, as too many fruits, cold drinks increase the urge to urinate causing frequent risings, awakenings. Eat more building during the day and less heating, more cooling at night. Avoid coffee, caffeine, chocolate, etc. Sleeping on the right side generally opens the left nasal passage, which is more relaxing. Breathing through the right nostril is more stimulating For acute insomnia; the following herbs may be helpful: valerian root, passionflower, Sleepy time tea, etc. For severe, hot insomnia, try 1 TB Brewer's yeast (high in B vitamins, cools the liver) in a fruit juice and or magnesium (250 mg) 1-2 times per day. Magnesium relaxes the liver, and softens the stools. The need to sleep long hours, decreases as one gets older.
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