Herbal Medicine For
Sleep & Energy
Sleep and energy come up with almost everyone we see. They're not always at the top of the list, but in some form most people would like more of both. In our busy lives, many of us are using ourselves up faster than the body can catch up.
One of the best things we can do for energy is get enough good sleep, so we look at the two together.
Sleep
Three Kinds of Sleepless Nights
Chinese medicine separates poor sleep into different kinds, because each points to a different pattern underneath.
Hard to Fall Asleep
You lie awake and the mind won't settle, but once you're finally out, you stay asleep. Chinese medicine often sees this as the mind not being able to settle in for the night, sometimes because of too much heat, sometimes because there isn't enough nourishment to anchor it.
Waking in the Night
Falling asleep is easy, but you wake up and have trouble getting back to sleep. Often it happens at nearly the same time each night, and that time is a useful clue.
Both
Hard to get to sleep and hard to stay there. This often points to the body's cooling, nourishing side, its yin, running low, so the mind stays restless at night.
The organ clock
Chinese medicine maps the 24-hour day as a clock, with each organ system having a two-hour period when it's most active. Waking at the same hour night after night tells us which system may need support. For example, waking between 1 and 3 a.m. is traditionally linked to the Liver, which is often tied to stress and frustration, while waking between 3 and 5 a.m. is linked to the Lungs. This is a traditional map rather than Western physiology, but we find it a useful clue.
Racing thoughts
Sometimes the mind won't stop replaying the day. Chinese medicine says we need to digest our thoughts as well as our food, and it links overthinking to the same system that governs digestion. When that's part of the picture, we add herbs that calm and settle the mind.
Energy
Energy That Lasts
Chinese medicine holds that much of our energy comes from our ability to digest food, so digestion is often part of the answer. The tongue and pulse help us see where low energy is coming from:
Weak digestion
Tired after meals, a poor appetite, and loose stools. Here we strengthen digestion so the body can make energy from food again.
Low yang
Feeling cold, achy, and drained, wanting to curl up under a blanket. Here we warm and rebuild the body's yang.
Other patterns
Low energy can also come from other patterns, such as not enough blood, or stress that leaves you tired but wired. Each calls for a different approach.
The goal isn't a jolt like a cup of coffee. We're not trying to make you feel wired. Ideally, you feel refreshed and calm, alert and focused.
Rest & Recharge
Take the Next Step
Whether you can't fall asleep, wake at 3 a.m., or are just running on empty, call or text either of us.
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Print them and bring them to your first visit.