The effects of an overworked and overstressed society are multitudinous but there are natural remedies for insomnia.
We need these because the body is our first line of defense against the modern agitated lifestyle.
When our bodies are taking a beating physically, the mental and spiritual effects follow close behind. The result is the condition of dis-ease, or not being at ease, and thus what we call diseases form.
When we have a lack of equilibrium during our working hours it carries over into nighttime, and the inability to sleep – insomnia – or the lack of rejuvenating sleep is an all-too-common occurrence.
When we’re not properly resting our bodies we are unable to perform during the day, and thus a vicious cycle forms.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses three terms to describe the core components of this cycle — Jing “essence”, Qi “energy”, and Shen “spirit”, justifiably called “The Three Treasures”.
When our Jing or bodily essence is disrupted, our Qi or vital energy is likewise thrown out of wack, and the result is our Shen spiritual energy, or Divine conscious awareness, cannot flourish.
When our Shen is functioning properly we have a calm and inspired outlook with the ability to project our life force from inside out, which manifests as a mind with higher intellectual capacity, broad generosity and kindness, a more beautiful and glowing physical appearance, and an overall loving disposition.
Thus, when we are spiritually healthy our body benefits (Jing) and our energy improves (Qi), and the cycle runs in a healthy, self-maintained way.
Insomnia can be a severely debilitating problem, and is typically a result of an anxious mind with its mental faculties worrying about what was done during the day and what needs to be done the next day, quite the opposite of the sensation of content of someone with healthy Shen energy.
Shen is usually considered to be the most important of the three (though still inseparable from the other two) because it balances the other two, and traditional Chinese medicine uses combinations of herb tonics targeted specifically for it.
Medicinal Foods’ Sleep and Meditation Tonic is an all-natural herbal tonic that harnesses the spirit (pun intended) of these profound Chinese remedies with the specific function of calming the mind and helping those experiencing sleep problems or insomnia.
As we discover the ingredients and their proven clinical effects, keep in mind that Taoist and Zen monks knew about these herbs for many centuries and have used them as a support system to cultivate a more profound and deeper meditative practice.
Albizzia Julibrissin Flower
Known as the Silk Tree or Mimosa, Albizzia Julibrissin is native of China but also found in India, Iran, North America and Japan. Both the bark and flowers of this tree are used for treating stress, sleeplessness, grief, and and amnesia.
The proliferation of anti-depressant medications prescribed by modern Western doctors have severe effects and create a dependence, but they are operating in a similar, albeit imitative, fashion as this natural plant. Albizzia works by balancing the neurotransmitter secretion of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, all without any known side effects.
Traditional anti-depressants work by blocking these neurotransmitters in the synaptic pathway which allows us to feel the effects they give, but also telling the body to not produce any more of these neurotransmitters because of the excess of them being artificially blocked in the synaptic pathway.
When the drugs wear off the roller coaster ride begins because the nervous system is no longer producing the transmitters, which results in huge emotional swings, acute depressive tendencies, headaches, weight gain, and general dis-ease.
But instead of the quick onset of happiness that anti-depressants give, and then eventually take away, Albizzia is regulating the secretion and deployment of the neurotransmitters, which is a way to holistically balance our brain activity.
The calm sensation it gives is an excellent way to wind down at the end of the day, but also treats more serious cases of depression. But you cannot simply remove dark and morbid thinking simply by taking an herb — holistic lifestyle changes must accompany it for long-term success.
Either way, Albizzia is an optimal replacement for the over-prescribed anti-depressants.
Longan
The fruit of the Longan tree are bushels of medium sized tan balls with a black pit, for which it is also known as Dragon’s Eye. Native to Southern China it thrives in tropical climates and has also been cultivated in India, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.
Served as a tea, Chinese herbalists prescribe peeled, dried and boiled Longan fruits specifically for treating insomnia, and usually has results within 2 to 3 days. It is also widely used for general fatigue and stress-related mental blockages, and is growing more popular as an exotic beverage for its succulent taste.
Logan contains the stress relieving compound adenosine, which the body produces to induce gradually drowsiness through the day, and is the same compound which caffeine blocks from reabsorbing into the brain which prevents a person from becoming drowsy. Longan is a tried and true extract available in a variety of forms, and used for centuries for supporting a healthy sleep cycle.
Schisandra
The small red berries from this climbing vine are extremely unique because they contain the five base taste profiles — sweet, sour, salty, pungent and bitter — which correspond to the elemental chart of traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine — earth, wood, water, metal and fire, respectively.
The result is that Schisandra works on all five major yin and yang organs simultaneously, making it a superfood par excellence. It is an adaptogen which means it works on balancing hormones and regulating the functioning of organs, resulting in holistic improvements towards stress, metabolism, immunity, and cognition. A balanced, adaptive body has a greatly improved body-clock, or natural timing for when it’s time to exert energy, and when it’s time to conserve.
Many studies have shown that when taking Schisandra as a sleep aid it reduces the amount of time needed to fall asleep, extends the length of sleep time, and helps a person go into deeper sleeps for longer.
The Sleep and Meditation Tonic by Medicinal Foods contains several other important herbs for internal equilibrium, including Eclipta, Spirit Poria, Licorice, Polygala, Jujube, Rhodiola, and Zhi Mu. Each has a respected place in the annals of Chinese herbal medicine, and each is a 100% natural extract.
When our body’s circadian rhythm is out of touch everything else in our life struggles. But the keys to a full functioning, healthy inner ecosystem that promotes The Three Treasures of Jing, Qi and Shen have been with us for thousands of years.
Insomnia and the lack of quality sleep is a major problem for many people, and sometimes can go on for years.
But there are natural remedies for insomnia such as the ingredients in the Sleep and Meditation Tonic goes above and beyond in addressing the vital processes that need replenishing for our bodily, mental and spiritual well-being.
