What Causes Insomnia?

The causes of insomnia are as varied as the people who have it, but I think of them in three categories:

Emotions by far are the most common culprit.  Who hasn't felt stress, anxiety, or depression at some point in their lives?  Additionally, trauma, grief, personality disorders, anger and chronic worry all upset our bodies' natural ability to shut down at night in order to recover from the demands of the day.  

Physical illnesses such as allergies, asthma, acid reflux, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, prostatitis, Parkinson's and chronic pain also interrupt our ability to sleep long enough to sink into REM cycle, that part of sleep that restores and rejuvenates.

Things we put in our mouths include certain medications and supplements, sugar,  alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.  Even simply eating too late can disrupt our bodies' ability to rest and digest.
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Why Sleep is Important

Nighttime is when we recharge our batteries.  It's when the body heals damage from the previous day, grows muscle, repairs tissues and synthesizes hormones.  It is essential in any healing process, from cancer to overthinking, and without it we are unable to rejuvenate.  In Chinese medicine we learn that there is a certain amount of Qi (vital energy) inherent in our DNA that more or less predetermines how long we will live, but there is also the day-to-day Qi that we cultivate through mindfulness, exercise and healthy eating habits that supplements Ancestral Qi, reduces chances of disease, and improves our quality of life.

How Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs Can Help

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) has evolved over literally thousands of years, and in that time, it has emerged that our bodies tend to malfunction in patterns.  Your practitioner will determine what pattern you are personally experiencing and then provide acupuncture and herbal remedies to rectify any imbalances.  For example, if you tend to lie in bed at night overthinking to the point of not being able to fall asleep, they will prescribe herbs and acupuncture points to quiet the mind.  If you have long restless nights during which you wake often, well, we've got a different set of acupuncture points and herbs to treat that, too!  It's all about finding a balance between mind-body-spirit and the natural world.  Remember, once that harmony is re-established, your body will have a new pattern.  And, if you make the recommended diet and lifestyle changes, you won't need TCM to help you sleep anymore.  Your insomnia will be a thing of the past!

What You Can Do Right Now

Let's say you aren't yet ready to give TCM a try.  Here are a few quick tips to help you improve your quality of sleep tonight:

• Turn off all electronic devices one hour before bed
• Give yourself four hours between dinner and bedtime
• Wake up at the same time EVERY day
• Exercise to reduce stress
• Make a cup of chamomile, valerian root or lavender tea (feel free to add honey)
• Take a hot Epsom salt bath (or soak just your feet)
• Adopt a mindfulness practice that is quick and works for you (i.e., listen to your breathing for one minute)

Whether you find yourself devouring sweets, searching for a pair of jeans that actually zip up, or screaming at a co-worker or loved one, most women can relate to the symptoms that arise in the week (or two) before our periods.  Your MD will recommend birth control pills to control the symptoms, but if you are looking for a more natural approach, try Chinese medicine!

What Causes PMS?

PMS is caused by the natural ebb and flow of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.  When life has us working too much, not eating enough of the right foods, not sleeping enough (or sleeping too much), or dealing with chronic stress, things easily get out of balance.  There is also scientific evidence suggesting that these hormone fluctuations can affect certain chemicals in the brain that regulate mood.

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a common condition where small, benign cysts grow on the ovaries, preventing ovulation and disrupting the natural ebb and flow of hormones.  Its causes aren't exactly understood but if you are a woman of childbearing age, there is a 5-10% chance you could have it.  This risk increases if you are obese or have a close female relative with PCOS.

How Chinese Medicine Can Help

Traditional Chinese medicine utilizes a holistic approach based on the idea that a human body is a microcosm of the natural world, and therefore subject to its laws and patterns.  Although the mechanisms are not completely understood (yet!), acupuncture stimulates the nervous system in such a way as to influence homeostasis, or the body's ability to maintain a balanced and stable environment.  In other words, the body wants to be in a balanced state of equilibrium, and acupuncture can help it get there.

Your acupuncturist will provide treatments and herbal teas to restore hormonal balance, normalize menses and hair production and improve fertility, all naturally.  Expect to be in care for 3-12 menstrual cycles, with significant changes noted in the first three months.  

Diet and Lifestyle - Living with PCOS

If you aren't ready to go under the needle just yet, there are still a few lifestyle hacks you can try right away if you suspect you have PCOS.  There is a connection between PCOS and high insulin resistance, and since the condition itself is considered inflammatory, you can manage most symptoms by adopting a low carb, anti-inflammatory diet and exercising regularly.

Low carb does not mean no carb!  Try switching high glycemic foods like starchy potatoes and white rice for quinoa and sprouted grain breads.  Increase your consumption of brightly colored vegetables and minimize processed, sugary and greasy fried foods.  Look into eating Paleo and don't fear healthy fats!  Avoid caffeine, common food allergens (shellfish, dairy, nuts, soy, wheat, eggs) and anything treated with pesticides.  

Lastly, exercise your muscles, not just your heart and lungs.  It's complicated, but the more you work your muscles, the more your body can metabolize the fluids that condense into cysts in the body.  So try a few planks or squats or home, or even better, enlist the help of a trainer to learn some basic and safe weight lifting moves to do between those moderate cardio sessions.

Most people have never heard of gout, or if they have, associate it with medieval medical lore right alongside leeching and bloodletting.  Fear not!  Acupuncture and herbal remedies can not only relieve painful symptoms, but also prevent future attacks.

What Causes Gout?

Gout happens when extra uric acid in the blood crystallizes and lodges in small joints. Uric acid is a normal byproduct of healthy metabolism that our bodies use to balance acid levels, with any leftovers processed by the kidneys to be excreted in urine.  There are many factors that cause extra uric acid to build up in the bloodstream, including:

• Genetics
• Certain diseases and the medications used to treat them (hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease)
• Consumption of alcohol
• Consumption of foods rich in purines (sardines, anchovies, cod, herring, shellfish, bacon, veal, turkey, organ meats)

Notice anything about those last two factors?  Both are lifestyle changes you can make right away if ever you find yourself suddenly dealing with an excruciatingly swollen big toe or other small joint.  Stop consuming alcohol and rich foods, pop a couple of NSAID's (NOT aspirin) and seek treatment ASAP.  

How Chinese Medicine Can Help

Traditional Chinese Medicine (aka TCM) is an approach based on man’s earliest understanding of the human body, namely, that it is follows the same rules and laws of the natural world. (Cliffs Notes Version: The body has a system of channels that link together everything on the inside—muscles, organs, bones, vessels, blood, etc—with everything on the outside. When the body is in perfect harmony there is health and vitality. When illness or symptoms arise, the body is letting you know you are out of sync.)

Your acupuncturist will prescribe acupuncture treatments and herbal teas to relieve the pain, flush the extra uric acid, and rebalance your system. They will also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent future attacks.

​Please note! Side effects of regular acupuncture include more energy, restful sleep, lower blood pressure and feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

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