Insomnia, Dietary Causes and Cures

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(Free-Press-Release.com) April 30, 2010 -- The following is an excerpt from Hot and Cold Health and Disease, based on Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines and the questioning and counseling of thousands. Chinese medicine is based on the observation that everything is a combination, balance of opposites: hot (yang, building) and cold (yin, cleansing), many of which we control through diet, exercise, thought, etc.

The body builds up and breaks down (cleanses) largely according to food, nutrients, to which there are only two: building (protein, fat) and cleansing (water, minerals, sugar, etc.). The correct balance produces the correct amount of blood, structure and function where the body can thrive. Any amounts, greater or less, in the extreme, cause disease via too much or too little blood, structure and function. Psoriasis is a too much, overbuilt symptom, disease. You will get more helpful and truthful information from my book than you will get from a million doctors.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the spirit, consciousness resides in the brain and heart. During the day, the shen rises into the head, stimulating the brain. At night, it sinks down, into to the heart, where it sleeps, rejuvenating the body mind. Insomnia is the inability to fall or stay asleep. There are two types of insomnia, acute and chronic. Acute (sudden, recent) insomnia is relatively easy to cure via supplements, herbs, meditation, etc. Chronic insomnia is more difficult to cure as all chronic long-lasting diseases take months, years to not only develop but also cure. The need to sleep long hour’s decreases, as one gets older.

Sleeping is a function of blood, energy, and the five major organs: (1) Spleen controls digestion, blood (2) Heart stores the spirit, circulates the blood (3) Lungs purify, oxygenate the blood (4) Liver purifies the blood and (5) Kidneys purify blood, store jing (sexual essence).

Blood, protein and fat enable the heart (blood, nutrient rich organ) to hold, anchor the spirit. Too much, especially animal, fried foods, etc., in the extreme, tend to thicken the blood, which in turn, thickens clogs and weakens the liver (stores, cleanses, removes excess protein, fat, cholesterol, impurities and releases the blood). Less protein, fat, cholesterol, etc. are cleansed, removed more stays in the blood (clots, high cholesterol), arteries (plaque, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, etc.), skin, organs, etc. Clogged arteries reduce blood flow to the heart making it difficult to fall asleep. Excess fat hardens, tenses the body, liver, muscles making it difficult to stay asleep.

Too little protein and fat, in the extreme, tends to weaken, thin the blood, which in turn, weakens the heart's ability to anchor, hold the spirit during the night, allowing it to roam, rise up into the head stimulating thinking (hot), dreaming (hot) and or wakefulness (hot).

Too much cleansing (salads, tropical fruits, juices, cold drinks) and or too little building, in the extreme tends to weaken digestion. Digestion warms and dries the body, lungs. Weak digestion (see spleen, Chapter 7) cools and dampens the lungs, nose, sinuses, etc. with excess mucous, which in turn, shortens, disrupts the breath (coughing, snoring) making it difficult to sleep (sleep apnea). This is one reason why spices (hot, aromatic) are added to the diet to not only dry excess fluids, mucous but also open the sinuses, allowing the breath to flow freely. For cold, conditions reduce cold, damp foods, drinks.

The excessive consumption of chocolate, coffee, caffeine and alcohol overheats the body as does overeating and late dinners. It is hard to sleep when the body is overheated via stimulants, excessive digestion and or clogged intestines (intestinal heat).

Poor posture, misalignment, injury, excessive emotions, thoughts and or environment (climate, electromagnetic radiation, noise, etc.) can also be a cause. Relaxing, sleeping is difficult if you are overheated, have too much energy: work all day long, in the sun, sleep in a room that is hot, damp, or eat drink too many building, hot foods, drinks (chocolate, coffee, caffeine, etc.). Regular exercise dissipates excess heat, energy, which relaxes, cools the body. Proper diet also relaxes the body.

Long-term, severe insomnia takes time, months, years of good dietary discipline to cure. The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended. Eat more building during the day and less heating, more cooling at night. Vegetarian meals (ideal for dinner) are less heating. Fruit is cooling, and makes an excellent nighttime snack, although not too late, as too many fruits, cold drinks increase the urge to urinate, awaken during the night. For acute insomnia, try Sleepy time tea. For severe, hot insomnia, try 1 TB Brewer’s yeast (high in B vitamins, cools the liver) in a fruit juice and or magnesium (250 mg 1-2 times per day) and calcium (500- 1000 mg. per day). Magnesium relaxes the liver, and softens the stools. Calcium calms the spirit. Peppermint tea 2-3 times per day also helps relax liver, muscle tension. Sleeping on the right side generally opens the left nasal passage (more relaxing). Breathing through the right nostril is more stimulating. For more information: www.richardheft.org

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