Looking For A Better Sleep?

Did you know the body primarily heals while sleeping?

This is why sleep is such an essential factor in health and wellness.  Proper sleep aides the body in the restoration of cells and is the major contributor of the healing process.  This is why doctors tell you to get plenty of rest when you are ill. 

  Proper sleep on a nightly basis is crucial to your health.

Many factors contribute to the inability to fall or stay asleep.

• Stress, one of the most common factors, can manifest as the mind racing when you settle in to bed for the evening. This can feel like an inability to turn off your thoughts, continual worry or mental list-making.  Stress can also lead to waking in a panic of unspecified fear in the middle of the night.

Improper diet can also be a major contributor. Food should not be eaten within 2-3 hours of sleeping. This is so the blood that is used in the digestive process is not focused in that area.  High levels of sugar throughout the day or drinking alcohol before bed can also cause sleep disturbances.  Sugar keeps the body in a state of heightened energy.  Alcohol, whereas it may help you fall asleep initially, may cause you to wake in the night when the sedative effects wear off.

It is also critical to make sure your environment is conducive to sleeping. You should never sleep with the television on.  Your room should be as dark and quiet as possible.  You may even consider covering your lighted alarm clock to block the glow.

Finally, aches and pains that have accumulated throughout the day can also keep you awake at night. Perhaps your back muscles can’t relax when you lay down.  Maybe you wake in the night with a pinched nerve or numb arm.  All of these factors can result in your body and mind not receiving the necessary rest it needs to function optimally.

Waking at the same time every night may have its explanation in Chinese medicine.  According to Eastern medical philosophies, certain organs will recover at certain times of the day or night. For example:  Waking every night at 2:30am may indicate that your liver is not recovering properly while you sleep.

Each of these sleep issues and contributing factors can be addressed through proper assessment, environmental changes, correct nutrition and relaxation techniques.

Stress can often be quickly and effectively dealt with through a process called the emotional freedom technique or emofree. Check out this amazing website with free demonstrations.  These videos show how you can use this technique in your own home to help relieve your stress through emotional acupuncture (without the needles!) http://www.emofree.com/

There are other simple self help techniques I’ll be happy to teach you. Few minute zoom or video phone call will allow me to teach you these effective techniques.

 Environmental changes such as preparing a relaxing, quiet and dark sleeping area can set the tone and mindset for a restful night’s sleep. You might consider using a lavender essential oil which has calming qualities. 

Proper diet and the use of supplements can support organ recovery and also prepare the body for a deceleration in activity and thoughts. 

One of my favorite supplements that I personally use and recommend to my clients is REM Sleep Gel. It’s the only all-natural sleep aid that helps support all 4 stages of the human sleep cycle without the use of drugs, without inducing a dependence on the supplement. Make sure to use a coupon code ANI20 to save 20% on your first order.

And finally, medical massage can relax the sympathetic nervous system to quiet the mind and body, helping to reduce accumulated stress and resulting in the elimination of pain that can keep you tossing and turning all night. You are welcome to book your in office or virtual session here.