With modern day stresses and demands – long hours at work and lots of screen time – quality sleep is difficult to come by any time of the year. According to the CDC, more than a third of American adults are not getting enough sleep. However, things become even more challenging as we begin to approach the dog days of summer.

SUMMER ENERGY AND INSOMNIA
Summer – with its longer daylight hours, heat and humidity, as well as uptick in activity – can rev us up during the day and challenge our ideal sleeping temperature at night. These two circumstances alone are common culprits of summer insomnia.

But according to Chinese Medicine, insomnia can also be explained as a result of excess of heat in the body (which we see when temperature rises). This heat impacts the Heart, one of the primary organs responsible for getting quality sleep. Additionally, what we see during the summer is an overall imbalance in the body as we move towards a time of intense yang energy (i.e. light, warmth, dryness, activity).

Consider for a moment what it takes to sleep – the element of going inside and inwards in body, mind and spirit. During the winter, this inward energy feels more in align with our daily activity. Conversely, the summer creates a more stark contrast between our waking and sleeping life. Daylight is lasting longer, and when it’s time to rest, we’re not ready to go inward. Therefore, it’s important to bring the yang inward to the yin so that the body is able to settle and sleep.

TREATING SUMMER INSOMNIA WITH CHINESE MEDICINE
Chinese Medicine has a long history of treating insomnia and Western medicine doctors are now recognizing that it offers effective treatments. Treating insomnia through Chinese Medicine almost always includes acupuncture and usually some sort of herbal formula (either digested or a foot bath before bed).

In Chinese Medicine, there are three main types of insomnia:
1. difficulty falling asleep
2. difficulty staying asleep
3. tired during the day, restlessness at night (often accompanied by vivid dreams)

Are one of these calling out to you? In treating summer insomnia, the acupuncturist will make a diagnosis based on the pattern of symptoms present. Diagnostic tools, such as pulse, also play a role in getting to the heart of the matter. Once a diagnosis is made, the acupuncturist will treat the root cause of the symptoms, not the symptoms itself.

If you’re experiencing tossing and turning this summer, we invite you to share your symptoms with your acupuncturist. Good quality sleep is important to all aspects of health and should be experienced year-round.