Sleep disorders like insomnia can play havoc with the daily circadian of an individual’s life. Each and every individual requires a certain amount of sleep to be able to perform at optimum level. The hours of sleep that are necessary depend on age and other lifestyle factors. A person who has not had a good night’s sleep is likely to be listless throughout the day. Sleeplessness lowers the sense of wellbeing that is necessary for efficient working.

Insomnia, the inability to sleep is a chronic condition of sleeplessness. It is not a disease by itself but is likely to be a symptom of another ailment.

Reaching out for sleeping pills every time when you cannot get sleep is a risky option and is definitely not the ideal cure. Sleep inducing drugs are habit forming and can cause other side effects. They are extremely difficult to give up later. Dependency on the pills becomes so complete that sleeping without a pill becomes impossible. Alternative therapies like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have a fair number of remedies and therapies that can help in curing insomnia. The medication is in the form of natural products and herbs and coupled with procedures like acupressure and acupuncture, the holistic approach proves to be extremely effective.

The approach that TCM takes towards insomnia is entirely different. It is based on the principle that a healthy body has a free flow of energy. This energy is called Qi by the Chinese. It is believed that Qi and blood must slip deep inside the body to induce sound sleep naturally. Obstructions in this vital energy can be caused by incompatibility between heart and kidney, liver disorders, a starchy or insufficient diet. The Chinese discipline of medication understands the underlying cause of the problem and corrects the disorder to allow free flow of Qi. Herbs and natural products are used by TCM to correct the imbalances in the body to unblock Qi.

Ancient Chinese procedures like acupressure and acupuncture are based on similar principles. These are delicate but effective techniques that use the application of pressure by hand or by inserting long thin needles at pressure points called meridians. These techniques can help in releasing the blocked energy.

Sometimes, the cause behind insomnia can also be psychological. People who suffer from depression can also have problems in sleeping soundly. Treating depression is the best option in such cases. You may have to resort to sleeping pills while the medication is continuing since the treatment process for depression may take time. The treatment for depression need not mean antidepressants and drugs that have side effects. There are natural remedies for depression that can prove to be very effective. You can choose from Homeopathy, Ayurveda or Naturopathy. Treating depression naturally is the choice you should make if you are looking at a holistic treatment for our condition. Herbal oils massages, exercises and rigorous workouts can also go a long way in treating depression as well as insomnia.

More than anything else, a fast life and over dependence on quick fix medical solutions is responsible for the increased incidence of disease. A little bit of conscious effort to improve lifestyles and eating habits can be instrumental in keeping the mind and body in ‘fighting fit’ condition.

References:

http://www.acupuncture-services.com/basic-theory/tongue-diagnosis.php

http://ezinearticles.com/?Chinese-Medicine-For-Curing-Insomnia-Naturally&id=534821