Understanding Insomnia

h as cardiovascular disease, depression, and type 2 diabetes. This is a troubling trend; the dangers of insomnia do not just affect the individual experiencing it but their impairment due to fatigue can put everyone around them at risk. A mind hindered by fatigue is much more likely to make mistakes and mistakes can cost a great deal of money or even lives. Stats Canada estimates that fatigue in the work place can cost the Canadian economy $5010 per Canadian directly and indirectly. More startling, a 2011 study found 1 in 5 Canadians admitted to nodding off while driving. Quality and quantity of sleep is a primary concern for any practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) whether it is your primary concern or not. To a TCM practitioner, a good night’s sleep is essential to consolidating the resources acquired during the day and resting your functions after a day of activity. Running without sleep means your personal resources begin to deplete and cannot be used to heal any conditions or maintain mental and physical health. A great visual for sleep in TCM would be a balloon and anchor. The balloon represents the “spirits” associated with sleep and can often be represented by mental activity before and during sleep. These spirits need to have a tether or residence to keep them grounded. The heavy or more substantial essential substances of the body such as blood and yin (representing all substance and nourishment in the body) are often regarded as this anchor and are especially important in the Heart and Liver organs. Add too much lift to the balloon, hollow out the anchor, or place something in between the two and the spirit is allowed wander without control. Pending the pattern this can show as a racing mind before bed, overly vivid dreaming, or a complete disinterest in sleep. This also applies to more severe sleep interruptions such as sleep walking and night terrors. Acupuncture and herbal remedies are often strategies used to bring you back into a regular sleep pattern and selections vary greatly depending on your specific symptoms (6 typical pathways are described in textbooks all with adjustability pending a patient's unique representation). To pair you with the right therapy, a TCM practitioner wants to know about how well you fall asleep, mental activity before bed, quality of sleep, dreaming quality and quantity, time of waking, temperature at night, snoring, activity, and how you feel in the morning. All these details and more help to narrow your specific needs and match you with the right intervention to get a full and satisfying nights rest. Other strategies include changes to lifestyle, diet habits, and environment both general and specific to your unique situation. A good night’s sleep can never be overstated and can be one of the fastest ways to improve concentration, safety, and your overall well-being. Learn more at our website, like and subscribe for more great Traditional Chinese Medicine advice! Alberta College of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine 1910 20th Ave N.W. Suite 102 Calgary, Alberta Canada, T2M 1H5 https://www.acatcm.com