What is it?
According to the Sleep Foundation, insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, affecting a person's normal daily activities (Suni & Rehman, 2024). It is a common problem. Paine and Gander (2005) report that about a quarter of adults in New Zealand suffer a chronic sleep problem.
What are the causes?
The causes are varied. Factors including heightened heart rate, higher body temperature, and increased levels of specific hormones such as cortisol influence waking at unwanted times.
· Lifestyle: We are creatures of habit. Sleep hygiene is an important area to examine for insomnia sufferers (Suni & Rosen, 2024).
· Stress about finances, the death of a loved one, divorce, or serious illness can cause short-term insomnia, but for some people, it persists (Suni & Rehman, 2024). Stress caused by the inability to fall asleep can further aggravate insomnia.
· Pain can make falling asleep comfortably a real challenge. Because we move in our sleep, a person with pain will be easily roused.
· Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are usually factors that can cause or result from insomnia (Suni & Rehman, 2024).
The causes of insomnia according to Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
In the TCM model of health, insomnia has causes similar to those listed above. Lifestyle, diet, stress, and so on impact the body in varied ways and affect the way the body functions. When you visit an acupuncturist or Chinese medicine practitioner, they will look at the causes, signs and symptoms to diagnose a ‘TCM pattern’.
These patterns are:
Liver Qi stagnation: Emotional stress, anxiety, and/or depression are the main causes of this pattern. The main symptoms are sleeplessness, which is worse with emotional upset, irritability, moodiness, depression, vivid dreaming, light sleep, and muscle tension in the neck and upper back (Maclean et al., 2018).
Phlegm-fire can be due to an improper diet (heavy in rich, greasy, sweet, or spicy foods). Symptoms include insomnia or waking in the early hours of the morning, a sensation of a foggy head, sensations of fullness in the chest and abdomen, nausea, belching, or reflux (Maclean et al., 2018).
Heart and Kidney disharmony: chronic disease, ageing, or weak body constitution are underlying causes of this pattern. Typical symptoms are chronic insomnia, palpitations, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating (Maclean et al., 2018).
Heart and Spleen deficiency: This pattern can be caused by overstrain/overwork or an imbalance between work and leisure. It is often seen in people who work long hours and experience high workplace stress. Key symptoms are difficulty falling asleep, palpitations, and palpitations. They are better with rest and stress reduction but worse with overexertion, fatigue, and/or poor appetite (Maclean et al., 2018).
TCM differentiates insomnia based on the individual's symptoms, history of the illness, and physical diagnostic information relevant to TCM, including observation of the tongue and palpation of the pulse.
Treatment with TCM
Acupuncture and herbal medicine may be effective treatment modalities for insomnia. TCM treats the individual. Pattern differentiation is made based on the individual's signs, symptoms, and history of the illness. Treatment includes acupuncture, herbal medicine or a combination of the two. A course of treatment will depend on the length of time the person has suffered from insomnia.
Treatment at the Acumore Clinic
Acumore Clinic is located at the Burwood Health Centre in Christchurch. At the Acumore Clinic, Burwood Acupuncture offers treatment bundles for insomnia. Not sure if TCM is for you? Book a free 15-minute consultation or a one-off “acupuncture experience” to try it and feel the difference.
Image sourced from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/what-causes-insomnia
Written by Shameela Pacquet of Acumore Clinic
25/08/2024
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