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March is Sleep Awareness Month – Can Chinese Medicine Cure Insomnia

Kaitlan Downes, MSAOM, L.AC

You’ve tried all kinds of tips, tricks, and even medications to try to help you fall asleep faster and longer, but nothing works. Can Chinese medicine cure insomnia?

Instead of tossing and turning all night, it’s time to get help from herbal medicine. Read on to find out how you can use Chinese medicine to overcome insomnia.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is often used as a blanket term for disordered sleeping. It usually refers to difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep.

Somewhere between 30-50% of adults struggle with insomnia. Why is getting a good night’s sleep so challenging in our modern times? There’s no single reason why almost half of our population struggles to sleep, but our fast-paced, high-stress society could be at the root of the problem.

Along with feeling tired and groggy, insomnia can lead to more server mental and physical health issues including anxiety, depression, brain fog, forgetfulness, pain, and other conditions.

As more and more people are searching for natural remedies to fall asleep easier, Chinese herbal medicine has become a popular go-to treatment for insomnia.

Curing Insomnia Naturally with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

We all need quality sleep to sustain our well-being. Without it, our energy drops, our mood suffers, our hormones become imbalanced, and our overall health and quality of life suffer.

Traditional Chinese Medicine powerfully treats and prevents insomnia, without the pharmacological side effects of sleeping medications. It works by addressing the root cause of your sleep disturbances.

In Chinese medicine, insomnia has many different causes or patterns of imbalance. Some common ones include:

  • Liver fire: Trouble sleeping, irritability or anger, red eyes, restlessness.
  • Heart fire: Restlessness, palpitations, franticness, nightmares.
  • Spleen qi deficiency: Fatigue yet inability to sleep, grogginess, lethargy, poor digestion.

Chinese Medicine Insomnia Treatments

To right these imbalances, Chinese medicine practitioners turn to both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for insomnia treatment.

Acupuncture is a gentle therapy that has been shown to be significantly better at improving both the quality and duration of sleep when compared to either no treatment or the use of Western medicine medications.

Acupuncture is even more effective when used in combination with Chinese herbal medicine for insomnia. Chinese herbal medicine treats insomnia by regulating the nervous system, decreasing levels of anxiety and stress, and promoting a restful state. Certain herbs (like suan zao ren, bai he, long yan rou) are sedative in nature and improve the quality of sleep naturally.

Of course, simple lifestyle changes are essential for a well-rounded TCM insomnia treatment. Your TCM practitioner may advise that you create better sleeping habits, monitor your mental health, decrease your intake of stimulants (like caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine), and get regular exercise. These habits go a long way to help you get the restorative sleep you need.

Chinese Herbs for Sleep and Insomnia

Chinese Herbs for Anxiety and Insomnia

An Shen Bu Xin Wan

For those who have Heart heat or Liver heat, anxiety often comes with sleeping issues. An Shen Bu Xin Wan contains popular Chinese herbs for sleeplessness that tonify yin and blood and sedate Liver yang to restore your internal peace. It also helps improve insomnia with symptoms including dizziness, nightmares, and anxiety. 

Chinese Herbs for Stress and Insomnia

Xiao Yao Tang Tincture

This formula, also called “free and easy wanderer,” is great for those with disturbed sleep caused by high levels of stress and qi stagnation. After taking it regularly, you should fall to sleep freely and easily! This is also a great TCM insomnia treatment for those who also struggle with depression and irritability. 

Chinese Herbs for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Er Chen Wan

As we know, insomnia can be caused by other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and heavy snoring. This formula treats excess phlegm which can clog airways and prevent normal nighttime breathing. It reduces coughing and chest congestion which can greatly affect our quality of sleep.

Chinese Herbal Tea for Insomnia

Bravo Teas Sleep Tea

A nighttime tea ritual is a great way to calm your nerves at night, and ease your mind into an easy and restful sleep. Sleep Tea is made with berries and flowers, which makes it a gentle stress and sleep aid that is appropriate for anyone who needs to give their nervous system a break and enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Sleep Easy Every Night with Chinese Medicine for Insomnia

While every person is different and there is no known “cure” for insomnia, Chinese medicine can help you calm your mind and get the rest you need.

Shop these and our other Chinese herbal medicine treatments of insomnia and peaceful sleep here!

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About the Author

Kaitlan Downes, MSAOM, L.AC

Kate Downes is a Chinese medicine practitioner with a passion for herbal medicine. In fact, it was her love for plant and earth medicine that first drew her to study Chinese medicine.

Kate has a MSAOM (Master of Science, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine) certification and practiced acupuncture in Indianapolis, IN for five years before packing her bags to roam the world. In order to stay in touch with the wellness community and continue to help others thrive with herbal medicine, she transformed her work from face-to-face patient care to spreading wellness through words. Her life as a remote herbalist and writer has allowed her to work with a variety of wellness brands, health pioneers, and her wonderful clients. She has a special interest in working with women’s health.

Kate thoroughly enjoys writing educational and useful pieces for Best Chinese Medicine. Her goal is to help the public gain a better understanding of the wonders of Chinese herbal medicine so they can be empowered in their own quest for natural, vibrant health.

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