In a small town in Zhejiang, Uncle Li is nearly seventy years old and has been sleepless lately. In the past, he was always able to sleep peacefully until dawn. Now, however, in the dead of night, he tosses and turns, wakes up frequently, and even dreams that make him feel exhausted. Uncle Li once tried to solve this problem with Western medicine methods, such as taking sleeping pills, but the effect of the drugs gradually weakened, and long-term dependence also worried him. By chance, he heard that Chinese medicine has a unique understanding and treatment of insomnia and dreams, so he decided to give it a try. After a few months of conditioning, Uncle Li's sleep has improved significantly, and he deeply feels that Chinese medicine has brought him not only a good sleep, but also an overall improvement in his quality of life.
Traditional Chinese medicine understanding of insomnia and dreams: ancient methods to solve present worries
Insomnia and dreaminess from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine
Within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine, insomnia and dreaminess are not only a disease, but also a manifestation of dysfunction of different meridians and organs in the body. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that sleep is a reflection of the health of the heart and kidneys. Specific to the syndrome type, insomnia and dreaminess are common in conditions such as "heart and spleen deficiency", "liver stagnation and qi stagnation" and "heart and kidney incompatibility". Heart and spleen deficiency is manifested as insufficient heart and blood, too much thinking, resulting in lack of energy and difficulty in sleeping, while liver stagnation and qi stagnation are manifested in depression and stagnation, which affects the liver's excretory function, making patients easy to wake up or have nightmares at night.
Diagnosis: Syndrome differentiation and treatment
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of insomnia and dreams focuses on syndrome differentiation and treatment, that is, by asking the patient in detail about his specific symptoms, physical characteristics and living habits, and conducting examinations of tongue and pulse, etc., to comprehensively determine the syndrome type of his constitution and disorder. For example, if the patient presents with symptoms such as palpitations, forgetfulness, and easy awakening, it may be a deficiency of the heart and spleen, and if the patient is emotionally unstable, chest tightness, and dreams at night, it may be liver stagnation. Prescribing the right medicine for the case and formulating treatment plans for different syndrome types is the essence of TCM in the treatment of insomnia and dreams.
TCM treatment of insomnia and dreams not only focuses on the alleviation of symptoms, but also focuses on fundamentally harmonizing the balance of yin and yang in the body and restoring normal physiological functions. Through herbal treatments, dietary modifications, and lifestyle improvements, TCM aims to help patients establish a healthier and more stable physical and psychological state, so as to achieve a high level of "curing diseases before they occur". This type of treatment emphasizes a comprehensive adjustment and long-term regimen, rather than relying solely on the temporary effects of medication.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Conditioning Methods: Dietary Therapy and Herbal Wisdom
Insomnia and dreaminess aren't just nighttime troubles, they affect vitality and quality of life during the day. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) responds to these problems by adjusting the body's inner balance, of which diet and herbal treatments are one of the most straightforward and effective methods.
Dietary therapy: the key to nourishing the mind and calming the nerves
In TCM theory, the heart and spleen are the two key organs of sleep. The mind is hidden in the spirit, and the spleen is the main movement, and the imbalance between the two will lead to insomnia and dreams. This can be greatly improved through dietary conditioning.
Lotus seed heart and Poria cocos porridge: Lotus seed heart has the effect of purifying the heart and fire, nourishing the heart and calming the nerves, and Poria cocos helps the spleen to carry water and reduce the burden on the heart and spleen. Porridge with lotus seed hearts, poria cocos and japonica rice can be eaten for breakfast or after dinner, helping to improve sleep quality.
Jujube kernel soup: Jujube kernel can calm the mind and is often used to treat insomnia caused by insufficient heart and spleen. Adding licorice, cocos and other medicinal herbs can be made into a medicinal tea that not only regulates the body but also calms the nerves and helps sleep.
Herbal Formulas: Precision treatment of natural medicines
Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions are formulated according to different syndrome types, which are extremely effective in improving insomnia symptoms.
Tianwang Buxin Pill: It is suitable for patients with heart and spleen deficiency and restlessness. It contains a variety of medicinal materials such as ginseng, sour jujube kernels, and yuanzhi, which can tonify the heart and nerves and nourish the spleen and qi at the same time.
Ganmai jujube soup: suitable for people with weak liver and spleen. The decoction of licorice, wheat and red dates can not only soothe the liver and relieve depression, but also nourish the spleen and calm the nerves, which is the best medicine for regulating mood and improving sleep.
Application of TCM external treatment: acupuncture and cupping, the charm of non-invasive therapy
External treatments in traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture and cupping, offer the possibility of physical therapy for insomnia and dreams, by stimulating specific acupuncture points in the body to regulate qi and blood and restore internal balance.
Acupuncture: point points for ventilation
Acupuncture is achieved by stimulating specific acupuncture points in the body to regulate qi and blood. For improving sleep, the following acupuncture points are crucial:
Tranquility Acupoint: Located in the head, it directly affects the nervous system and can be used to relieve mental stress and improve sleep.
Xinyu acupoint: Located on the back, the acupuncture of the Xinyu acupoint can soothe the heart, calm the mind, and help relieve cardiogenic insomnia.
Cupping and gua sha: anti-depression and channeling
Cupping and scraping regulate the flow of qi and blood in the body by creating local negative pressure at specific locations on the body surface or by scraping, and are particularly suitable for insomnia caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Cupping: Choosing the bladder meridian on the back can effectively promote the flow of qi and blood throughout the body, especially for insomnia with liver stagnation and qi stagnation.
Gua Sha: Generally performed on the neck, shoulder blades and back, it can quickly release the depression in the body and improve the quality of sleep.
Through the combination of these methods, it is possible to adjust physiological functions not only from within the body, but also to achieve harmony and balance throughout the body through physical stimulation outside the body. There are many ways to treat insomnia and dreams in TCM, but the key is to find a treatment plan that suits your body and symptoms. In practice, it is recommended to choose the most suitable treatment under the guidance of a professional TCM practitioner to ensure safety and effectiveness.