Are you one of the many people who wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep? This is a common type of insomnia affecting millions of people. If this affects you on any kind of regular basis, you might be interested to learn more about the causes that might be interfering with a sound night’s sleep. Good sleep is one of the key components to maintain good health. It is a time when the body literally rejuvenates and rebuilds itself from within. However, if there are obstacles that prevent the body from getting the restorative rest it needs, the body is not properly nourished every night and over the long term this can lead to health conditions or to even more serious disease. Your body is always talking to you even when you sleep. Your sleep cycles reveal what organs are depleted when you sleep and which ones are being replenished.
If you have heard of the natural biological clock of the human body, you have likely heard of circadian rhythms. You can read more here. Getting the body’s natural rhythms to balance is a key to component to a good night’s rest. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a similar explanation to the rhythm of our bodies based on a 24-hour organ clock. Divided in to two-hour intervals that correspond to a particular organ that is at its strongest during a specific time frame, this model sheds light on the organs that might be in need of extra support. During certain time intervals, specific organs literally rule the functions of the body as blood and energy, termed qi (pronounced chi) enter particular organs by circulating through the 12 meridians (energy pathways) of the body. When the body, mind and emotions are balanced, the meridians flow freely to nourish the body’s vital organs, yielding vital health. If there is disharmony in the body, mind or emotions, it interrupts that natural flow and dis-ease can result. In Chinese Medicine, the body, mind and emotions are not separate from the body’s organ clock. A disruption in an organ will create disharmony in the body’s flow of energy and the reverse is also true. If there is disharmony in the body, it is tied to the emotional and mental state and if there is disharmony in the emotional and mental state, it is tied to the body. This holistic approach helps one to understand the importance of maintenance not just for the physical body, but also for emotional and mental aspects.
There is a lot to be learned from the body and what it might teach you about your physical and emotional well-being simply by paying attention to the time(s) the sleep cycle is interrupted. Refer to the chart below to gain insight in to what waking up at certain times of the night might be telling you about your body.
11pm – 1am: Gallbladder. If you find yourself waking up between 11pm and 1am, it indicates the gallbladder is being taxed. The gallbladder is responsible for breaking fats down. You might try reducing or eliminating oils and fried foods and instead consume healthier fats earlier in the day. Emotionally, the gallbladder represents resentment or bitterness. If you are holding on to heavy feelings like this, they affect your physical body and your emotional or mental well-being therefore, it may in your favor to make time for introspection, reflecting on any challenging relationships. You might consider seeking guidance in the way of a counselor or a mentor to help you on your journey as you allow yourself to accept, to forgive and to release any negativity that may be blocking energy in your system adversely affecting your gallbladder which in turn affects your sleep.
1am – 3am: Liver. If you are waking up between 1am and 3am, it indicates your liver is overloaded. Responsible for detoxifying the body and processing emotions, the liver is essential to your mental well-being and emotional balance. You might seriously consider a healthier diet, eliminating processed foods and alcohol, incorporating a whole foods diet free of caffeine, refined sugar, oil and salt. The feeling associated with the liver is anger. Unresolved anger and high stress can be a direct influence on the liver and on the energetic pathways that nourish it. Find ways to manage and/or reduce your stress and engage in anger management release techniques to help you let go of any of the anger and hurt associated with emotional wounds of the past.
3am – 5am: Lungs. If you have a tendency to wake up between 3am and 5am, it indicates an imbalance in the lungs or in the lung meridian. Waking up in this interval of time is an indicator that something is blocking your ability to take deep full breaths. Emotionally, you might be experiencing grief as a result of dealing with a loss. To help manage this imbalance, consider engaging in a yoga practice, specifically yoga breathing where the abdomen is engaged for deep breathing exercises. You might also partake in meditation or make time for yourself in nature for introspection giving yourself permission to cry to and to release any grief.
5am – 7am: Large intestines. If you are waking up before you need to be up for work, your large intestines may need more attention. Eliminating first thing in the morning through the bowels and the urinary tract is a healthy indication. However, if you are not releasing in the early morning, hydration or more fiber for proper digestion is indicated. Emotionally, you might feel stuck in a situation, job, relationship, etc. Mental visualization where you envision your life and yourself feeling how you would like to feel most of the time can help to release negative emotions that come with feeling one is stuck in a rut while at the same time being an energetic catalyst for change. Retraining your mind to focus on positive thoughts is very helpful to the release of negative thoughts and emotions. Understanding the amazing neuroplasticity of the brain and how it can be influenced through your conscious effort to focus on what is right in lieu of what is not can help you move forward physically and emotionally.
Energy work, acupuncture, acupressure or Reiki are great ways to clear blockages in the energy system to free the flow of qi to nourish the vital organs appropriately. In some cases, people are released of their insomnia after even a single treatment. Likewise, improving one’s lifestyle and diet has tremendous implications for good sleep. Fostering a deeper connection with nature helps to offsets counterproductive affects of EMF pollution that are received from digital devices and can be a huge sleep aid as the body is nourished with the mana (energy) of nature through fresh air. Specific crystals or stones act as deflectors for electromagnetic pollution. You might educate yourself on the value of shungite, black tourmaline, obsidian and others to help manage any EMF exposure. A thorough deep cleansing of the body on a cellular level can also be a tremendous help in reducing this exposure and helping the body find balance through the removal of toxins, chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals that find their way into our bodies. The cleaner the body is, the easier it is to rest not having to work so hard to contend with invisible toxic elements. One of the most obvious and straightforward sleep aids is to consume more water. Hydration helps all of the vital organs, the lungs, the heart, the intestines, essentially the entire body to dilute toxic exposure and to encourage overall better functioning of all its systems. While it sounds simplistic, as little as adding a full glass of purified water in the early morning and another in the evening can make demonstrative changes to the metabolism and to sleep.* Read more here on other tips for good sleep. Talk to a practitioner if you would like additional professional help to encourage deep sleep for overall well-being and balance as you journey towards optimal health.
*consult with your medical professional if contra-indicated.
Sources:
Angela Soen Park, “Traditional Chinese Medicine Explains Why you Wake Up Around The Same Time Every Night” Tao of Wellness, March 2019 https://www.taoofwellness.com/newsletters-blog/2019/3/2/traditional-chinese-medicine-explains-why-you-wake-up-around-the-same-time-every-night
Fiona McDonald, “Can’t Sleep? A Weekend of Camping Could Reset Your Circadian Rhytm, Study Suggests,” Science Alert, Health, February 2017 https://www.sciencealert.com/can-t-sleep-a-weekend-of-camping-can-help-reset-your-circadian-rhythm-study-suggests
Nathalie Silver, “Everything You Need To Know About Your Circadian Rhythm” Healthline, July 2020 https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/circadian-rhythm
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease and is solely for the purpose of sharing information. Please consult a licensed physician before considering any new protocol.
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