Sleep is an essential part of our life. From allowing us to recharge our own self batteries, for our organs to repair and for overall good health, it is simply something we just cannot live without. The amount of adequate sleep is always different for everyone but it’s not about the amount of hours you get, the quality of your sleep will always most important.
So what exactly can be deemed as a good night’s rest?
It means drifting off to sleep without delay and difficulty, sleeping straight through to the morning without any disruptions and then waking up fresh and recharged, ready to take on your day.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) take on sleep
Sleep is seen as a necessity for the optimal health because it is the period of time when the body is able to help you repair and replenish your vital nutrients in your body. In particular to the topic of TCM, it’s all about the connection between sleep quality and how it plays a big role in the quality of your Qi and Blood supply.
Qi, pronounced ‘chee’ is the core substance for the body in TCM theory. Qi is also referred to as energy and exists as various dynamic forms in the body. Optimal good health comes down to the quality of your Qi. Another vital substance that the body simply cannot live without is Blood. Qi is essential for the production of blood and influences its quality within the body. Therefore together Qi and Blood quality have the major influence on your overall quality of sleep.
It is a known fact that everybody knows the importance of good quality sleep and its link to overall good health. However in present day life, more and more people are taking sleep for granted and sacrificing their sleep time in order to attend to other tasks of higher priority.
What happens when Good SLEEPing habits become neglected?
Life happens. There’s no doubt that responsibilities and priorities can sometimes take over your sleep priority. But when the stresses of life begin to take a toll of your health, your quality of sleep also becomes affected. You’ll begin to notice changes in your quality of sleep.
Some common examples are:
- Interrupted/broken sleep
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Your mind is unable to switch off
- You’re experiencing dreams
- You’re waking up tired or exhausted
So what can this lead to?
- Tiredness/ fatigue
- Junk food cravings
- Mood swings
- Unsatisfactory bowel movements
- Aches and pains
- Poor immunity
- Lack of concentration
There are a wide range of issues that are associated with poor quality of sleep.
The link between ‘Back to School’ and Sleep
The Summer holiday period is an extended amount of time for both teachers and students to be unwinding, enjoying their freedom, catching up on activities or catching up on sleep. This changes their regular routine and whether they are getting more or less sleep than usual, it actually has an impact on their sleep quality.
After weeks of having time off, it is inevitable that teachers and students need to come back to the reality of their responsibilities. Their lives change from holiday mode to ‘back to school’ mode. Hence a change to their routine. It is generally the time where sleeping patterns are affected and people require time for their bodies to get accustomed to the routine again.
The TCM explanation
Attempting to change a person’s routine has a great impact on Qi and Blood. Without the normal stresses of a teacher’s and student’s life, their Qi and Blood quality is generally thriving. However when a change in routine is occurs, it is common for the body to not be able to cope and the recovery period varies amongst everybody. The quality of Qi and Blood are generally lacking, weakened and consequently disconnects from the organs and causes disharmony within the body. Therefore the quality of sleep becomes less than impressive.
REMEMBER! In TCM theory, everything connects in the body. It’s all about the holistic approach.
HOW CAN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE HELP?
Applying methods of both Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, it aims to restore balance in the body to help it cope with the changes. It also aims to boost the quality of Qi and Blood in order to reconnect with the body to which it can ultimately functioning at its optimal best.
TCM power to help you put the Beauty back in your Sleep!
Amy Duong, Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a 5000 year old system of healthcare that focuses on the causative factors of a condition. Practitioners adopt a holistic approach to investigate aspects of a person’s diet, lifestyle and emotions in order to diagnose and treat an underlying problem.
