INSOMNIA

There is no quick fix to insomnia, at least not a natural and permanent one. The diet and lifestyle change necessary to eradicate insomnia takes time, but it's worth it. How liberating it will be to sleep unassisted. Small but significant changes over a long period of time can make this your reality. Why not start now? Even if you are taking sleeping pills, you can, over time, reduce them and finally perhaps give them up altogether. It will take years, the problem was years in the making, but your drug-dependency will gradually lessen and possibly, one day, you will be free of them! If you are already on sleeping pills, it is important that you ask for less and less strong sleeping tablets over time, and you must have tablets that can be broken up into smaller pieces, which is another way of gradually reducing your dependency on sleeping pills. In addition, use a timer to listen to a recorded book or the radio. Don't use the TV to fall asleep; the flickering light agitates your liver. Take blood and Jing nourishing foods and food supplements such as micro-algae and DHA/fish oils (see below). Above all, don't loose heart, keep trying!

What can you do to help you fall asleep?

• Focus on cooling foods and cooking methods, especially in the evenings. Avoid warm foods and substances such as coffee, garlic, onions, lamb and hot spices.
• Look at Part One, Warming and Cooling Foods and Food Combinations; Part Three, Women's Health, Blood Nourishing foods; and Mother and Baby, Jing nourishing foods, supplements and lifestyle. Insomnia is often caused by a (Liver/Heart) blood deficiency in combination with a Kidney Jing Deficiency. Also look at Lifestyle Factors that Weaken the Spleen-Pancreas, and do not forget something as simple as chewing well and eating in a calm atmosphere.
• Helpful foods: oyster-shell calcium; whole wheat, rice, oats; all mushrooms; barley gruel; cucumber, lettuce, celery, celery/lettuce juice; mulberries, lemon, Schisandra berries; jujube seeds; dill and basil in cooking and teas; chamomile, catnip or valerian together with rose hips; free-range organic milk; a glass of warm milk before sleep.
• Cut back on work if you are overdoing it and take the evenings off!
• If you lead a sedentary life, increase your exercise regime - but not right before bedtime. On the other hand, ease up if you are exercising too much. Excessive exercise causes excessive sweating. Insomniacs do well with a daily half-hour, fairly strenuous walk.
• Reach for relaxation, deep breathing and/or meditation techniques, see Appendix 6: Resources.

Author Details: Leni Hurley