The Importance of Sleep: One of nature’s most underutilized resources

The best things in life are free: like, friendship, family, and don?t forget the shared human leisure activity that everyone derives pleasure from…sleep! Everyone likes to sleep, and what gift is greater than a morning offering no snooze limitations? And what noise is more annoying than the beeping of your alarm, notifying you that a night?s rest has terminated and reality is inevitable. We all know that sleep is obviously excellent since we delight in the act, and that it must be necessary otherwise we?d nod off behind the wheel or desk. But many of us fail to realize just how essential a full night of rest is to every function of our body. Yes, while in a whimsical slumber we can become anyone or anything, but in reality our unconscious bodies are becoming healthier, more pleased, smarter, and thinner. And no, this isn?t a dream! Wake up and smell the benefits of sleep!

Obviously sleep makes us more alert since it flushes out the toxins in our head that make those infamous brain farts. But, it can also strengthen our memory and cognitive function. While we are off in another land, our brain is very present, working hard to process sensory input and link together memories and images. It also improves our mood, which decreases our chances of getting in a road rage induced debacle on our drive to work. Speaking of our moods, adequate sleep can reduce our risk of depression by having a positive effect on our serotonin level. How can anyone be sad after a pleased visit to dreamland?

Sleep is not only a remedy for our mental well-being, but it aids our physical health as well. When our bodies are sleep deprived, they go into a state of stress and inflammation can occur. This heightens health risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Also, sleep is a much needed time for our bodies to make natural and necessary repairs. While we snooze, our bodies produce more protein than when awake, and these molecules make a force and fight off our daily enemies such as environmental stresses, damaging ultraviolet rays, and other harmful pollutants. Sleep can also fight obesity, and getting the recommended 7-9 hours can work wonders for our waistline. Have you ever heard of ghrelin or leptin? Probably not, but they are the hormones that regulate our appetite, and sleep keeps these monsters under control. Now there?s a reason to hit the sheets!

Check out more valuable information on how vital is sleep in our lives.

The Part Played by Chinese Medicine as Nature’s Insomnia Cure

The modern practice of traditional Chinese medicine brings together many thousands of years of medical practice in China including the use of Chinese medicine to cure insomnia naturally. The term ‘traditional Chinese medicine’ is a quite modern term which was first coined by the People’s Republic of China during the 1950s when the country was trying to build a substantial export trade for its time honored medicines and medical practices.

Nowadays, traditional Chinese medicine does not only encompass medicinal products, but also includes such things as herbal preparations and several practices including acupuncture and massage. The principle behind Chinese medicine is that the human body functions as the result of numerous interrelated processes which are in constant interaction with the environment around us. Providing all of these processes stay in balance you are healthy. But, if these processes are not running alongside one another smoothly, then your health suffers.

There are a number of different philosophies which govern the practice of Chinese medicine including things like the theory of Yin-Yang, the part played by the five elements (earth, water, wood, fire and metal), the flow of energy along the meridians of the body and the interaction of the organs of the body as laid down in the theory of Zang-Fu.

For many years there has been considerable conflict between those who follow traditional Chinese medical practices and those who believe in the science-based practice of western medicine. Nowadays but Chinese medicine, as well as other types of Oriental and Asian medicine, is increasingly gaining acceptance in the west and we now often refer to such practices simply as alternative medicine.

For millions of sufferers around the world, herbal remedies have long proved to be effective in curing insomnia, or for the relief of insomnia symptoms, and such things as lavender, chamomile, lemon balm and passion flower have been known for a long time for their medicinal properties. There surely cannot be very many insomnia sufferers who have not taken a drink of hot honey combined with lemon balm before turning in for the night.

A growing number of people are also turning to acupuncture or, for those people who do not like the thought of needles, acupressure. Both arts have been in use for centuries and the principles arose out of the time-honored Chinese practice of adjusting the level of energy within the body by controlling its flow along the meridian lines.

Despite its increasing acceptance there are still a substantial number of people who are wary of Chinese medicine but anyone who has experienced it in action, particularly those of us who have been fortunate enough to spend time in the Far East, will certainly vouch for just how effective it is.

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from insomnia then using Chinese medicine to cure insomnia naturally is one route which you should certainly consider very seriously.