It is often said that a good sleeping formula is invaluable! Indeed, there is nothing more blissful than a sound night's sleep. Poor sleep quality stems from various causes, which, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), can be primarily categorized into five types. Let us explore these five types in detail:Frequent nightmares and restless sleepFrom the perspective of TCM theory, individuals of this type are classified as having insufficient nutritive qi (Yingqi Deficiency). They experience a state of semi-sleep throughout the night, accompanied by daytime symptoms such as listlessness, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and occasional palpitations. In terms of regulation, the primary focus is on nourishing blood and calming the mind. Consume more blood-nourishing foods such as jujubes. One can also try the Baimai Anshen Decoction, prepared by simmering appropriate amounts of wheat, lily, lotus seeds, and jujubes together. Simmer twice, strain the liquid, and it can be consumed at any time.Difficulty falling asleepIndividuals of this type belong to the Liver Qi Stagnation category, and may sometimes experience distending pain in the chest and hypochondria. Regulation primarily involves soothing the Liver and relieving stagnation. Incorporate more foods such as millet, milk, oyster meat, and longan aril into the diet. Additionally, pay attention to mental cultivation, eliminating worries and tension. Furthermore, soaking the feet in hot water before bedtime is advisable.Waking up early, falling back asleep, and remaining drowsy until dawnThis type is often accompanied by symptoms such as dry throat, dry mouth, acne, and night sweats. Individuals of this type fall into the category of Nutritive Blood Heat Accumulation. They can massage acupoints such as Neiguan (located at the center point inside the wrist when pressed with three fingers), Shenmen (on the palmar side of the wrist joint, in the radial depression of the ulnar flexor tendon), and Houxi (on the ulnar side of the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint). In daily life, consume more lotus roots, sophora flowers, mung beans, coix seeds, and rock sugar pomelo. Brewing raw rehmannia root with rock sugar as a substitute for tea also yields favorable results.Intermittent sleep (alternating between sleeping and waking)Individuals of this type are classified as having Disharmony of the Spleen and Stomach. They experience restless sleep at night, along with symptoms such as a greasy or bland taste in the mouth, anorexia, and loose stools. The main therapeutic principle is to harmonize the Stomach, strengthen the Spleen, and calm the mind. In daily life, one can regularly consume millet, lotus seed, and lily porridge. Prepare it by boiling appropriate amounts of millet, lotus seeds, and lily in water. The resulting porridge has a mild and sweet flavor, which nourishes the heart and calms the mind, making it an excellent tonic for those with sleep disturbances.Insomnia throughout the nightIndividuals of this type belong to the Liver and Heart Fire Hyperactivity category. This condition is often triggered by anger and irritability, and is more common in menopausal women. Symptoms include irritability, bloodshot eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, dry stools, and a red tongue with a yellow coating. The primary regulatory principle is to clear heat and purge fire. For women with neurasthenia, palpitations, insomnia, excessive dreaming, and dark circles, Suanzaoren (Spina Date Seed) Porridge is recommended. Prepare it by mashing 50 grams of spina date seeds to extract the juice, then cooking 100 grams of japonica rice with the juice to make porridge. Consume it every night before bed, as it nourishes the heart, calms the mind, and astringes sweat. Alternatively, drinking rose tea is also beneficial. In addition, there is another type where sleep is extremely light, to the extent that one cannot even perceive whether they have slept, as if remaining awake. This is mostly caused by physical weakness, essence depletion, excessive sexual indulgence, or spermatorrhea, leading to the exhaustion of kidney yin and hyperactivity of heart fire, manifested as restlessness and insomnia. Such patients should be regulated starting from the Kidney. Black foods can tonify the Kidney, such as black rice, black peanuts, black beans, black sesame, wolfberries, Chinese yam, and polygonum multiflorum. Moxibustion can also be used to tonify the Kidney, targeting acupoints such as Shenshu, Mingmen, Taixi, Shenque, and Guanyuan. Persistence will yield significant results.

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Bao Shidong

He comes from a TCM family, is a retired TCM physician, and a provincial-level outstanding doctor. With over 40 years of medical practice, he has a profound understanding of TCM theory and rich clinical experience. He specializes in treating various common diseases, pediatric diseases, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, hypertension, stroke sequelae, rheumatism, lumbago and leg pain, osteoproliferation, cervical spondylosis, chronic rhinitis, neurasthenia, insomnia, headaches, senile pruritus, various skin diseases, acute and chronic tracheitis, sexual dysfunction, infertility, psychological disorders, treating winter diseases in summer, acupoint application, preparing winter tonic pastes, sub-health conditioning, TCM health preservation, and other refractory diseases.Consultation hours: Tuesday to Saturday