Acupuncture treatment for insomnia and self-conditioning
I. Factors leading to insomnia
Insomnia is a common phenomenon that most of us experience, and many people are afflicted by insomnia and suffer from it. Today we focus on acupuncture methods for insomnia. There are many causes of insomnia, some of which are removed and then insomnia is not cured, so before treating insomnia, we must first analyze what factors can cause insomnia.
1, physiological factors jet lag reaction, such as travel to Europe and the United States, because the body’s biological clock has not yet adapted to the new circadian rhythm, easily lead to insomnia
2, environmental factors noise or light interference with sleep, room temperature is too high, too low can lead to insomnia. Bedding discomfort, sleep environment changes in cars, boats, airplanes, etc. can also lead to insomnia
3, w substance factors certain drugs or drinks such as caffeine, theophylline, alcohol and various stimulants, some appetite suppressants can lead to insomnia.
4, disease factors Various diseases that cause pain, heart and lung diseases, asthma, nocturia, gastrointestinal diseases, kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, etc. often cause insomnia. Many psychiatric diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc. are often accompanied by insomnia symptoms.
5, psychosocial factors The pressure of work and study, the stimulation of adverse life events, the nervous stimulation of movies and television, etc. are common causes of insomnia.
Among the above-mentioned reasons, some factors are relatively easy to eliminate, such as environmental and drug factors, but not easy to eliminate are the physical factors and psychosocial factors. The elimination of psychosocial factors depends on the establishment of a correct outlook on life and the cultivation of healthy psychological quality, as well as on the skills of dispersal of bad emotions and stress release techniques, which cannot be solved by drugs and acupuncture alone, as the so-called “heart disease also requires heart medicine”. Insomnia caused by serious illnesses needs to be treated by treating the primary illness. Also, worrying about insomnia itself is an important cause of insomnia.
Well, when we can solve the reasons affecting sleep to exclude, or sleep disorders, that is the problem of internal disorders of the body.
Second, the understanding of insomnia in Chinese medicine
What does Chinese medicine consider to be the cause of insomnia? We believe that the causes of insomnia are mainly the following: internal injury of emotion and will, excessive thinking; poor diet, spleen and stomach disorders; weak body and weak body after illness. As a result, insomnia occurs due to the imbalance of internal organs, yin and yang, qi and blood. For example, if the seven emotions are too intense and persistent, it can cause disorders in the qi of the internal organs, excessive thinking can damage the heart and spleen, and the diet is too spicy and greasy, too much strong wine and drinks, and indigestible food can damage the spleen and stomach, and the damage of these internal organs leads to insomnia. The body is too weak, insufficient qi and blood, and blood does not nourish the mind is also a cause of insomnia.
It should be noted that some bad emotions, which may have little to do with external stimuli, are related to the dysfunction of the internal organs of the human body, such as those stated in the Nei Jing: “Liver qi deficiency is fear, and actuality is anger” and “Heart qi deficiency is sadness”, etc. Insomnia caused by these bad emotions is also to be Insomnia caused by these adverse emotions is also treated by adjusting the function of internal organs.
Three, insomnia typing
1.Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity type (including liver fire, heart fire, liver and Yang disturbance, heart and kidney disorder, total Yin and Yang imbalance)
2.Spleen and stomach disharmony (including phlegm-heat internal disturbance type)
3, heart and spleen deficiency type
1.Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity type (including liver fire, heart fire, liver-yang up disturbance, heart-kidney non-intercourse, total Yin-Yang disorder) The ancients believed that “those who do not sleep, the disease in Yang does not cross Yin.” Yin deficiency at the bottom, Yang hyperactivity at the top, Yin and Yang do not intermingle is the main pathogenesis of insomnia, the state of the body of such patients, or Yin deficiency, or Yang hyperactivity, Yin deficiency can lead to Yang hyperactivity, Yang can consume Yin, in short, Yin and Yang are not balanced, Yang Sheng on the top is the pathological basis of insomnia, if coupled with excessive emotional fluctuations, Yang Sheng into fire, disturbing the brain, insomnia occurs. If subdivided, there are various types of liver fire, heart fire, liver-yang disturbance, heart-kidney non-interaction, etc. In the case of liver fire, the temper is irritable and easy to anger; in the case of heart fire, the heart is irritable and palpitating and easy to sweat; in the case of liver yang up disturbance, in addition to the manifestation of liver fire, there are also the manifestation of yin deficiency such as dry eyes, dry mouth and tongue, and night sweating; in the case of heart-kidney disjunction, the heart fire is hyperactive on the top and the kidney yin is deficient on the bottom, because according to the five elements, the heart is the main fire and the kidney is the main water. Otherwise, it is called “heart-kidney disjunction”. Clinical manifestations are not only symptoms of heart fire and yin deficiency, but also symptoms of kidney deficiency, such as lumbar pain and leg weakness, dizziness and tinnitus.
2.Spleen and stomach disharmony (including phlegm-heat internal disturbance type)
The spleen and stomach disharmony in Chinese medicine mainly refers to the dysfunction of the digestive system, such as dietary stagnation, stomach pain and bloating, intestinal tinnitus and diarrhea, etc. can affect sleep, that is, as the ancient saying goes, “if the stomach is not in harmony, sleep is restless”. In addition, disharmony of the spleen and stomach and poor diet can produce phlegm and fire, which can disturb the brain and lead to insomnia. Patients in this category often have symptoms such as bitter mouth and phlegm, dizziness and distress, chest and abdomen stuffiness and discomfort, and thick and greasy tongue coating.
3. Heart and spleen deficiency type
This type of patients are mostly seen in those who are physically deficient or weak after illness, and also seen in those who overthink and strain the heart and spleen. The clinical manifestations of insomnia include dreaminess, shortness of breath, tasteless diet, lack of color and tiredness.
Acupuncture treatment
We have learned in clinical practice that acupuncture is more effective than traditional Chinese medicine in treating insomnia. Although western medicine has strong immediate effects, it is easy to depend on addiction and long-term use is harmful to the human body.
Main acupoints: Baihui or Sishencong, Shenmen, Sanyinjiao. Additional acupoints for three types.
(a) Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity type: Yongquan (moxibustion for 20-30 minutes). Fire acupuncture points for bleeding of Si Shen Cong
(A) Liver fire: Xingma, Manxi, ear tip; (B) Heart fire: Daling, Laogong, Zhongchong, Shaochong; (C) Liver yang: Liver Yu, Taichong, ear tip; (D) Kidney yin deficiency: Kidney Yu, Taixi, Zhaohai; (E) Depression: Tanzhong, Zhimen, Neiguan, Taichong.
Moxibustion with a moxa stick is a better method because insomnia is mostly due to the imbalance of yin and yang. Yang is fire, which is inflammatory; yin is water, which is watery and moves down. If yin is deficient, yin does not converge with yang, yin and yang are out of balance, the false yang will float up, called “false yang on the hyper” in Chinese medicine, hyper yang disturbs the brain, which will lead to insomnia. In addition to releasing blood from the ear tips and other points to drain Yang, moxibustion can be applied at the Yongquan point to draw down the hyperactive Yang energy, which is called “drawing fire back to the source” in Chinese medicine. Yongquan point is chosen because it is located at the lowest point of the body, grounded, the pole of yin, so the metaphor is like the underground water gushing out like a spring, and belongs to the first point of the kidney meridian, and the kidney is the body’s innate essence, the origin of yin and yang qi, called “yuan yin yuan yang”, so moxibustion Yongquan point can “draw fire The moxibustion point can “induce fire to return to the yuan”, so that the harmony of yin and yang.
If you feel that the clinical use of moxibustion Yongquan is more laborious, then you can use the warm needle moxibustion method, but acupuncture Yongquan is more painful, we can use the warm needle moxibustion Sanyinjiao instead. Sanyinjiao is the meeting point of the liver, spleen and kidney meridians, and is itself a key point in the treatment of insomnia, and also has the effect of inducing fire to return to the source. Since the therapeutic effects of Sanyinjiao are more extensive, warm acupuncture for Sanyinjiao has also been very effective in treating other diseases such as gynecological diseases and skin diseases. If one feels that moxibustion with warm needles is more laborious, or if the patient is averse to the smell of moxibustion smoke, then fire needles can be used instead, and the results are more rapid than those of warm needle moxibustion.
The method I created after learning the He’s Three Passage Method, because the stubborn insomnia has the side of brain stagnation, the fire needle puncture bleeding is the combination of warmth and strong passages in one, has a strong effect of unblocking the brain, while the blood can be released to drain fire and drain Yang, suitable for the treatment of stubborn insomnia of deficiency Yang on the hyperactivity.
Acupressure points.
1, Baihui, four Shenchong area five fingers together knocking for three minutes, more suitable for those with headache.
2, annmian point massage 3-5 minutes, with cervical spondylosis, migraine more suitable.
3, Yin Tang point push rub 3-5 minutes, have a front headache, eye discomfort is more appropriate.
4, massage the foot Chung Quan points, left and right 100 times each, or use the fist to gently tap the heel of the central left and right 100 times each, these two methods have a “fire to the yuan” effect. Liver fire, liver Yang plus rubbing between the lines or Taichong; heart fire plus rubbing Daling, Laogong; depression by rubbing Tanzhong, rubbing Taichong.
(2) Spleen and stomach disharmony – Spleen Yu, Stomach Yu, Neiguan, Zhongbuchus
Acupressure: focus on pressing the foot San Li, San Yin Jiao for three minutes each. The three points on the head can be used.
(C) Heart and spleen deficiency type – Heart Yu, Spleen Yu, Zhongyu, Foot Sanli.
Acupressure: press and knead the Neiguan point for five minutes each, and press and knead the Foot Sanli and Sanyinjiao for three minutes each. Three points on the head are optional.
Five, insomnia non-medical methods
Insomnia, in addition to medical treatment, the usual physical and mental conditioning is also very important.
1, psychological adjustment. Psychological imbalance is the most important cause of insomnia, psychological adjustment depends on the establishment of a correct outlook on life and the cultivation of healthy psychological quality, relying on the discharge of bad emotions and pressure release techniques, people can not be too demanding on themselves, the so-called “step back to the sea and the sky”. There are many books available on how to maintain mental health, so I won’t go into detail here. Here is a story to illustrate that insomnia itself does not seriously damage people’s bodies, but has a negative impact on physical and mental health: the worry and anxiety about insomnia itself.
Samuel Untermeyer, an internationally renowned barrister, never slept well a day in his life. When he was at university, he had the hardest time with two things: asthma and insomnia. Both of his illnesses were so severe that there was no cure. So he decided to take the next best thing and instead of tossing and turning in bed when he had insomnia, he got out of bed and read. As a result, he was at the top of his class in every subject and became a senior at the City University of New York. After he became a lawyer, insomnia continued to plague him, but he wasn’t worried at all. He said, “Nature will take care of me.” This was true, and although he slept little every day, his health remained good, and he outperformed his colleagues because he worked while others slept. in 1931, he received the highest fee ever earned by a lawyer in a lawsuit: $1 million. But there was still no way to get rid of his insomnia. He spent half of his nights reading and woke up at 5 a.m. He was almost halfway through his day when most people were just starting to work. He surprisingly lived to 81 years old, he realized that insomnia is no big deal, never anxious and irritable about it, otherwise he must be silent and painful for life.
2. Physical exercise. Body and mind balance is a recipe for overcoming insomnia, a common problem of modern people is a heavy psychological burden, a light physical burden, the body and mind in a serious state of imbalance. To make the physical and mental balance, it is necessary to increase physical activity.
3, diet regimen. Some food can improve insomnia, you may want to try. These foods are: yogurt, beer, millet porridge, yellow cauliflower, dates, cinnamon, bananas, lotus seeds, lily, lychee, walnuts, lettuce, mulberry, etc.