Early to Bed: Maintain Good Health and Prevent Illness
In traditional Chinese medicine, putting out “fires” in the body is one way to ease into a good night’s sleep.I recently came across a medical case involving a man seeking treatment for persistent headaches. He and his wife lived apart—his wife, a busy individual, spent her days at the research institute and her nights writing papers. Struggling to unwind due to her busy schedule and viewing sleep as a waste of time, whenever she visited, she occupied her nights with household chores such as washing dishes, doing laundry, and vacuuming—inadvertently disrupting her husband’s sleep. Consequently, on those occasions he sought medical attention, experiencing not just headaches but also a heart condition.Sleep Before 11 p.m. to Maintain Good Health and Prevent IllnessMany people experience headaches when they lack sufficient sleep. Despite that, some individuals perceive sleep as a wasteful activity. However, adequate sleep is crucial as it provides essential rest for the body. Additionally, it is important to sleep before a specific time each night for optimal well-being.According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), meridians are the channels through which energy flows in the human body. They are responsible for transporting qi and blood—the fundamental substances that constitute and sustain human life—throughout the body. The circulation of qi and blood maintains the balance and stability of various tissues and organs. When there is an imbalance or deficiency of qi and blood in the body, diseases or other conditions may occur.In TCM, the flow of qi and blood through the body’s meridians begins in the lung at the hour of the Tiger (3 a.m. to 5 a.m.), proceeds to the large intestine during the hour of the Rabbit (5 a.m. to 7 a.m.), enters the gallbladder during the hour of the Rat (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), moves to the liver during the hour of the Ox (1 a.m. to 3 a.m.), and circles back to the lung at the hour of the Tiger, in an ongoing cycle.It is crucial to take good care of our gallbladder and liver. Staying awake past the hour of the Rat, and missing the window to nurture the gallbladder, can lead to issues with our “soul.” A Chinese saying, “sleeping body, awaken soul,” emphasizes that even if the body rests, the soul may remain active. Given that the soul is governed by the liver, it is advisable to sleep before 11 p.m. to truly nurture our overall well-being.Frequent Late Nights Deplete Jing, Qi, and ShenTraditional Chinese Medicine places significant emphasis on health preservation, focusing on nurturing Jing, Qi, and Shen, which are considered the three treasures of the human body. The state of one’s health is closely connected to the condition of Jing, Qi, and Shen. What do each of these mean?In TCM, Jing is considered the fundamental substance for the body’s growth, development, and reproductive capabilities. Qi, too, is viewed as the essential material constituting the human body. Qi possesses dynamic characteristics similar to a gas and can be understood as the internal “energy” or “drive” that constitutes life. Additionally, TCM posits that all bodily tissues are tangible, and there is a sophisticated, intangible force overseeing their functions, known as Shen. If Shen is vibrant, internal organs and the physical form are lively. However, if Shen disperses, everything ceases to function. Shen serves as the supreme commander of all aspects of life activities, including spirit, willpower, perception, and movement.Later on, the aforementioned patient took his wife to visit a Chinese medicine practitioner. The practitioner used acupuncture therapy at her hairline and assured her of a good night’s sleep upon returning home. A month later, the wife came back for another visit, saying, “Since you could make me sleep so much, can you make me sleep a little less or not at all?” Naturally, the practitioner had ways to grant her wish, but humans are not made of iron—they must be taken care of and should not be treated that way. Depleting Jing, Qi, and Shen excessively can lead to future health problems. In the modern world, many people earn a lot of money in the first half of their lives but compromise their health. In the second half, they end up giving all their money to doctors, which does not make sense at all.Related StoriesFurthermore, adequate sleep can enhance immunity. Insufficient sleep weakens the immune system, making one more susceptible to conditions such as shingles, colds, and rhinitis. One common symptom includes mouth sores, often attributed to “excessive fire” in TCM. Excessive stomach fire can manifest as oral sores, excessive heart fire as tongue sores, and excessive liver fire as eye-related issues like excessive eye discharge. At this point, there may be excessive fire in the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, or kidneys.The simplest way to address these “fires” is to have a good night’s sleep. With proper rest, one gains the energy to pursue more meaningful daytime endeavors, such as serving
Udumbara
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In traditional Chinese medicine, putting out “fires” in the body is one way to ease into a good night’s sleep.
I recently came across a medical case involving a man seeking treatment for persistent headaches. He and his wife lived apart—his wife, a busy individual, spent her days at the research institute and her nights writing papers. Struggling to unwind due to her busy schedule and viewing sleep as a waste of time, whenever she visited, she occupied her nights with household chores such as washing dishes, doing laundry, and vacuuming—inadvertently disrupting her husband’s sleep. Consequently, on those occasions he sought medical attention, experiencing not just headaches but also a heart condition.
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Sleep Before 11 p.m. to Maintain Good Health and Prevent Illness
Many people experience headaches when they lack sufficient sleep. Despite that, some individuals perceive sleep as a wasteful activity. However, adequate sleep is crucial as it provides essential rest for the body. Additionally, it is important to sleep before a specific time each night for optimal well-being.In TCM, the flow of qi and blood through the body’s meridians begins in the lung at the hour of the Tiger (3 a.m. to 5 a.m.), proceeds to the large intestine during the hour of the Rabbit (5 a.m. to 7 a.m.), enters the gallbladder during the hour of the Rat (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), moves to the liver during the hour of the Ox (1 a.m. to 3 a.m.), and circles back to the lung at the hour of the Tiger, in an ongoing cycle.
It is crucial to take good care of our gallbladder and liver. Staying awake past the hour of the Rat, and missing the window to nurture the gallbladder, can lead to issues with our “soul.” A Chinese saying, “sleeping body, awaken soul,” emphasizes that even if the body rests, the soul may remain active. Given that the soul is governed by the liver, it is advisable to sleep before 11 p.m. to truly nurture our overall well-being.
.
Frequent Late Nights Deplete Jing, Qi, and Shen
Traditional Chinese Medicine places significant emphasis on health preservation, focusing on nurturing Jing, Qi, and Shen, which are considered the three treasures of the human body. The state of one’s health is closely connected to the condition of Jing, Qi, and Shen. What do each of these mean?In TCM, Jing is considered the fundamental substance for the body’s growth, development, and reproductive capabilities. Qi, too, is viewed as the essential material constituting the human body. Qi possesses dynamic characteristics similar to a gas and can be understood as the internal “energy” or “drive” that constitutes life. Additionally, TCM posits that all bodily tissues are tangible, and there is a sophisticated, intangible force overseeing their functions, known as Shen. If Shen is vibrant, internal organs and the physical form are lively. However, if Shen disperses, everything ceases to function. Shen serves as the supreme commander of all aspects of life activities, including spirit, willpower, perception, and movement.
Later on, the aforementioned patient took his wife to visit a Chinese medicine practitioner. The practitioner used acupuncture therapy at her hairline and assured her of a good night’s sleep upon returning home. A month later, the wife came back for another visit, saying, “Since you could make me sleep so much, can you make me sleep a little less or not at all?” Naturally, the practitioner had ways to grant her wish, but humans are not made of iron—they must be taken care of and should not be treated that way. Depleting Jing, Qi, and Shen excessively can lead to future health problems. In the modern world, many people earn a lot of money in the first half of their lives but compromise their health. In the second half, they end up giving all their money to doctors, which does not make sense at all.
Furthermore, adequate sleep can enhance immunity. Insufficient sleep weakens the immune system, making one more susceptible to conditions such as shingles, colds, and rhinitis. One common symptom includes mouth sores, often attributed to “excessive fire” in TCM. Excessive stomach fire can manifest as oral sores, excessive heart fire as tongue sores, and excessive liver fire as eye-related issues like excessive eye discharge. At this point, there may be excessive fire in the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, or kidneys.
The simplest way to address these “fires” is to have a good night’s sleep. With proper rest, one gains the energy to pursue more meaningful daytime endeavors, such as serving society or writing more papers—and that means fewer headaches for awakened spouses!
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TCM’s Treatment Approach to Insomnia
As mentioned earlier, meridians function as pathways for the flow of energy within the human body, playing a crucial role in the transportation of both qi and blood. By stimulating the corresponding acupoints through techniques like acupuncture and massage, it is possible to treat diseases related to specific organs.In Traditional Chinese Medicine, various acupoints are used to address insomnia, often through acupuncture therapy. For example, there is an acupoint called “Shenmen” located on the back of the wrist, and three inches above the inner ankle lies the “Sanyinjiao” acupoint. Needling these acupoints or applying acupuncture at the central hairline on the scalp, as well as on the “Er Shenmen” acupoint above the ear, can contribute to improved sleep. Notably, massaging these acupoints can also yield positive effects.
- (The Epoch Times)
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- (The Epoch Times)
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