Traditional Chinese Medicine theory dictates that the body’s energy, or qi, circulates through 12 meridians, which are linked to internal organs and emotions (see chart below). The heart meridian, for instance, relates to anxiety, the liver meridian to stress and anger, the spleen meridian to worry. Too much of any emotion can affect its correlating meridian, creating a disturbance in shen. “Shen is the energy of our emotional body,” explains Claudette Baker, L.Ac., president emeritus of the American Association of Oriental Medicine. “If it is affected by work or stress, it can keep us from falling asleep, prevent REM sleep, and cause us to wake easily.”
Job-deadlines, running around, lots of unexpected outcomes — that sort of thing can result in constant emotional stress and a hyperactive shen.
The aim to improve the body’s ability to adapt to stress. With acupuncture (which is ideal for many since it’s safe and free of side effects), a minimum of six sessions is typically needed to inspire change. “Acupuncture has a cumulative effect,” he explained. He encouraged me to forgo coffee, even on my most tired days, and suggested a diet free of stimulants, tobacco, and sugar as well, which work to deplete yin, the body’s inward, feminine energy.
During each treatment, Lu inserted thin, three-inch needles into 16 to 20 points around my body, concentrating mostly on my legs and feet, my forearms and hands, my ears, and the top of my head. “Points in the legs correlate to the liver; arms and hands to the heart; and the top of the head to the brain,” Lu said. “Needling them all together has a synergistic effect.” The needles didn’t hurt going in, but I was quite aware of them once they were in, especially when Lu rotated them to increase their effect. Once they were in place, I cooked beneath low-heat lamps meant to further stimulate the needles’ effectiveness. Remarkably, the heat worked to warm me to sleep. A midday nap is a near-miracle for me. (Now, if only I could convince Lu to come home with me, I thought.)
Slowly but surely, my symptoms decreased with each session. At first, I still woke up but started falling back asleep faster as the treatments progressed. Three weeks later, I’m waking up maybe once or twice a week, a vast improvement if not perfection. Following Lu’s suggestion, I’ve started writing out my to-do lists before I go to sleep to “release them from my mind.” Since the most significant underlying cause of my sleeplessness seems to be the one thing I’m not willing to change — that is, a job that’s fun and fulfilling and often incredibly stressful — I’m faced with a challenge. As Lu said, there’s no cure for my insomnia, but with some careful effort toward finding time for myself — a recurring difficulty — and continued acupuncture, my body can gradually find restful balance. I’m hoping.
Connecting the Dots
TCM links each of the body’s meridians to an emotion. Use the following guide to help you figure out the roots of your imbalance. For an accurate diagnosis and treatment, visit a licensed TCM acupuncturist.
Meridian: Heart
Emotions: Anxiety
Insomnia Characteristics: Waking up easily; difficulty falling asleep
Meridian: Liver
Emotions: Anger, stress, frustration
Insomnia Characteristics: Difficulty falling asleep; waking between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
Meridian: Lungs
Emotions: Grief
Insomnia Characteristics: Waking between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Meridian: Spleen
Emotions: Worry, obsessiveness.
Insomnia Characteristics: Waking at the same time every night; dream-disturbed sleep.
Proper rest is essential to good health, and sleeplessness is a sign of imbalance. If your sleep is habitually disturbed it can be very damaging to the vital energy of the body and immune system. If this is the case it is important that you inform your acupuncturist so that you can work together to determine the cause of the imbalance and treat it appropriately. You will be amazed at how a good night’s sleep can change your life. With more rest your energy and focus improve, the immune system and your body’s ability to deal with stress are strengthened, and nagging health conditions resolve more easily.
In Chinese medicine, sleep is seen as one’s yang energy moving inward to be enfolded by yin. Many different patterns of imbalance can hinder this process. Sleep can be disrupted by pain, hormonal imbalances, digestive or cardiovascular disorders, anxiety and depression, and many medications have the side effect of sleeplessness. The effects of imbalance can be as simple as difficulty quieting the mind when preparing for sleep, or sleep which is easily disturbed by light or sound, to very restless, agitated or dream disturbed sleep.
Our own energy is ruled by the energy of the world around us and the rhythm of our days should naturally reflect the sun’s course. As the sun is setting the ruling energy is that of yang (day) transforming into yin (night). This is the appropriate time to start slowing down, quieting the mind and preparing for sleep. This of course is not always possible, but those suffering from sleeplessness should be aware of the influences of universal energy and try to adjust their habits to better reflect this natural pattern. Stimulating food and drink including spicy foods, heavy meats, rich sauces, alcohol and caffeine should be avoided in the evening. Stressful mental work should be avoided if possible in the evenings and vigorous exercise should be scheduled earlier in the day. Activity should be restful, meditation or gentle stretching and breathing exercises can help prepare the body for sleep. Some people find a tea of chamomile or valerian beneficial, for some soaking the feet in warm water helps to draw the energy down from the head and quiet the mind, a gentle foot massage can relax the body and the mind as well. For more serious sleep disturbance a personalized herbal remedy can be prescribed along with acupuncture treatments directed at benefiting sleep and restoring balance.
Children will also benefit from proper sleep. Many parents whose children are poor sleepers, or wake frequently or early, worry that an earlier bedtime would make things worse. Just the opposite can be true. An earlier bedtime can lead to a deeper more restful sleep with fewer interruptions. Chronic or frequent colds, ear infections, extremes of energy (highs and lows) throughout the day, can be brought into balance with good restful sleep.
In our fast paced society sleep can be taken for granted, and many of us develop unhealthy patterns of sleep early in life, but lack of proper sleep does eventually take its toll. Those with chronic sleep disturbance know too well what they are missing. If you feel that you are not getting the rest you should, take steps to change it now; you will be truly grateful for the benefits you receive.
