Springtime energy is in full swing! It’s a sunny time to plant seeds and it’s an empowering time to put in motion our visions for the future. In Chinese Medicine, Springtime is the season of the Wood Element - which is characterized by a type of kinetic energy that wants to do and to act. The Liver and Gallbladder are the corresponding organs of the Wood Element, and they equally need movement and a sense of freedom.
This is why it is especially important to celebrate this season by giving your body ample movement, such as
Brisk walks
Dancing
Stretching out the sides of your body
Sometimes there can be disharmony in the Wood element, which oftentimes can show up when you are trying to sleep. Insomnia is one of the most common complaints that patients come into acupuncture clinics for especially in the Springtime.
Insomnia affects 5 to 10 percent of the population and is characterized by either
Difficulty falling asleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Early waking up
One possible reason insomnia can get worse this time of year is that Springtime is connected to the spirit of the Liver, called the Hun, which helps us to make plans and have a sense of direction. Each of the 5 yin organs, including the Liver, has its own spirit with its own individual characteristics. If the Liver is nourished, the Hun will be rooted and not drift off during sleep. It will also have an ease with all the blooming energy of Springtime that wants us to move easily and quickly. But if the Liver isn’t properly nourished, then the Hun is said to leave the body temporarily at night and then lead to restless or dream-disturbed nights. Moreover, the Liver is associated with 1-3am in the Chinese Clock, and imbalances in the Liver have patients commonly waking up during that time.
Acupuncture can help with Insomnia in all of its forms, whether it's an imbalance in the Wood element, a year of intense stress levels, or more. A systematic review involving over 30 studies and 2363 participants highlighted that acupuncture is both safe and effective at improving sleep quality and sleep duration. (1) In fact, one study suggests that ¼ folks suffering from insomnia often seek integrative approaches such as Acupuncture for sleeping support.(1)
Research shows that Acupuncture might be doing this through interacting with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the central nervous system (CNS). (1) GABA is known to have an inhibitory effect on the brain and is one of the main neurotransmitters involved in sleep. An increase in GABA will quiet the CNS prior to sleep. Studies have shown that the combination of acupuncture points Heart 7 and Spleen 6 work on the GABA pathways and increase the amount of GABA in cerebrospinal fluid of the brain. (1) Furthermore, Acupuncture works with the CNS by regulating the autonomic nervous system which can then reduce blood pressure, lower the heart rate, and quiet sympathetic fight-or-flight nerve activity, which is often dysregulated in patients suffering from insomnia. (1)
Are you having issues with insomnia? Book your next acupuncture session to get some support! In the session, a licensed acupuncturist can get to the root of the issue and provide you with an individualized acupuncture treatment, herbal remedies, and self care tips to help you have a better night’s rest.
Shergis, J., Xiaojia, N., Jackson, M. etc al. “A Systematic Review of Acupuncture for Sleep Quality in People with Insomnia.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 26, June 2016, pp. 11–20., doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2016.02.007.