How to treat poor sleep with Chinese medicine?

Poor sleep will have an impact on health, so it is necessary to adjust it reasonably. You can cook some rock sugar lotus seed soup, millet and red date porridge, or eat some lotus root powder, longan meat, lily and milk, which can all have a good effect on improving sleep.

1. Take a noon nap

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the role of "midnight nap", which means you should sleep soundly at night (midnight) and take a short rest during the day (noon). The Yang energy is at its peak at noon every day, and taking a short rest can nourish the Yang. The duration of nap varies from person to person, and is generally appropriate between half an hour and one hour. Nap time is too long, which can easily lead to deep sleep, and make people feel tired after waking up.

2. Nourish your heart yin at night

When people sleep, the five internal organs are still working non-stop, especially the heart which works the hardest, so it needs to be consciously "rewarded". Eating some heart-nourishing food before going to bed can help you focus your mind, calm your nerves and promote sleep. Lotus seed soup with rock sugar, millet and red dates porridge, lotus root powder, longan meat, lily, or a glass of milk can all nourish the heart well.

3. Adjust your breathing before going to bed

As the saying goes, “Stillness creates Yin, and abundant Yin leads to sleep.” Slow and even breathing is very helpful in falling asleep. This is because when the human body's breathing rhythm slows down, the heartbeat will naturally slow down, and the circulation of qi and blood and life activities will also gradually slow down. Only in this state can a person fall asleep peacefully. Generally speaking, it is not advisable to do large-scale exercise or have extreme emotional fluctuations before going to bed. You can sit quietly, take a walk, or listen to soothing music to gradually calm your body.

4. Soak and rub your feet every day

Before going to bed, soak your feet in warm water and then do a foot massage, such as the Yongquan point (the first third of the line connecting the second and third toe lines and the heel), which is very effective in promoting sleep. Because this can promote the connection between the heart and the kidney, it can promote the circulation of Qi and blood, relax muscles and tendons, and balance the yin and yang. You can move your toes while rubbing your feet. For example, the first toe is the pathway of the liver and spleen meridians. Moving your toes more can soothe the liver and stomach and increase appetite.