Jennifer Moffitt, L.Ac., Dip. OM
Last time, we explored the concept of food as medicine, and the role that diet, micronutrients and supplements play in
maintaining or improving your health. In this section we are going to discuss the importance that sleep plays in the
healing process, and how to best make the most out of your sleep time.
While everyone understands the importance of a good night’s sleep, many people in our culture are chronically sleep
deprived, and don’t realize that they either 1) don’t get enough sleep or 2) don’t benefit from the sleep they receive.
The Good
First before we cover anything else, let’s define what constitutes a good night’s sleep. Generally speaking, most people
need 7-10 hours of sleep (surprise, surprise). The sleep should be deep, continuous and uninterrupted. Upon waking,
you should feel rested and refreshed. Generally, it is considered normal to get up at night one time to urinate, but you
should be able to fall back to sleep easily and quickly.
The Bad
Frequent sleep patterns I observe in patients that are not healthy, and that are problematic:
- You find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep (It should not take 2 hours!)
- You wake frequently during the night, or don’t achieve a deep sleep
- You wake early in the morning (>4 AM and can’t go back to sleep)
- You need to urinate more than once per night (I have patients who thought it was normal to get up 2-4 per
night). - You don’t feel rested in the morning
- You have frequent active dreams or nightmares
- You suffer leg cramps or pain that make it difficult to sleep
The Western Medical Perspective
Now from the perspective of western medicine, insomnia is defined as the following:
difficulty falling asleep
waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep
waking up too early in the morning
un-refreshing sleep
Do you fit any of these categories? Surprisingly, the number of hours you sleep is not a determining factor in
diagnosing insomnia. Rather, it is the quality and regularity of sleep that is most important. In allopathic medicine, it
is generally accepted that people over 55 generally have shallower sleep that is more fragmented, with frequent waking
and decreased daytime alertness.
Many patients with chronic pain or illness are surprised to discover that what they consider a “normal” sleep cycle may
be very poor indeed. In my clinic, almost without exception I find that patients with pain, inflammatory conditions and
chronic fatigue have poor sleep patterns, and that their subjective experience of pain is almost double that of
someone who sleeps well. Like it or not, in order to achieve the best health possible, some time and attention must
be given to improving your sleeping habits.
How sleep deprivation can make you fat…
Wholistic Acupuncture facelifts!
Incredible before and after
photos.
Fertility and Acupuncture
How acupuncture and Oriental
medicine can help you conceive
naturally.
medicine, but will interest his patients in
the care of the human body, in diet, and in
the cause and prevention of disease."
Thomas Edison
