Insomnia: natural ways to support restful sleep

The effects of an overworked and overstressed society are multitudinous but there are natural ways to support restful sleep.

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’ Spirit Tonic is an all-natural herbal tonic that harnesses the spirit (pun intended) of these profound Chinese herbal traditions, designed to calm the mind and support restful sleep.

As we discover the ingredients, 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 in Chinese herbalism to calm the mind and support restful sleep.

The calm sensation it gives is an excellent way to wind down at the end of the day.

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 use peeled, dried and boiled Longan fruits to support restful sleep. It is also widely used during times of everyday fatigue and stress, and is growing more popular as an exotic beverage for its succulent taste.

Longan contains the compound adenosine, which the body produces to gradually induce drowsiness through the day, and is the same compound which caffeine blocks from reabsorbing into the brain, which keeps 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 supports the body’s natural balance, including a healthy response to stress, metabolism, immune function 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.

Spirit 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.

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 ways to support restful sleep, and the ingredients in Spirit Tonic go above and beyond in supporting our bodily, mental and spiritual well-being. If sleep problems persist, see your doctor.