“I can’t sleep” can mean very different things. One person lies awake for two hours with a racing mind. Another drops off fine and is wide awake at 2am. Another sleeps all night but wakes up feeling like they haven’t slept at all.
In Chinese medicine these are treated as different patterns, not one condition called insomnia. The old texts describe the Shen (spirit or mind) as something that needs a calm, nourished home in the Heart at night. If the Heart is undernourished, overheated, or disturbed by something else in the body, the Shen doesn’t settle. Working out *why* it isn’t settling is most of the job.
Common patterns we see in clinic
- Heart and Spleen deficiency: trouble falling asleep, light sleep, lots of dreams, tired during the day, poor appetite, a bit foggy and anxious. Often follows long periods of overthinking, overwork or not eating well. Think of a mind that’s run out of fuel but won’t stop.
- Liver Qi stagnation or Liver heat: wired and irritable, tight shoulders, sighing, waking between 1 and 3am (the Liver’s time on the body clock). Stress and frustration are usually front and centre.
- Yin deficiency with heat: falling asleep is okay but waking hot, restless or sweaty, often in the early hours, with a dry mouth and hot palms. Common around perimenopause and after long stretches of burning the candle at both ends.
- Heart and Kidney not communicating: tired but wired, ringing ears, lower back achiness, a feeling of being exhausted and agitated at the same time.
- Digestive disharmony: restless sleep after heavy or late meals, bloating, reflux, or a full stomach at night. The old saying is that when the stomach is unsettled, sleep is unsettled too.
Most people are a mix of two or three, which is why a proper consult matters more than a quick fix.
How acupuncture fits in
Points are chosen to suit the pattern. Some are regulars for calming the Shen, like Shenmen (HT7), Yintang, and Anmian. Others do the underlying work: SP6 and KI3 to nourish Yin, LR3 to move stuck Liver Qi, ST36 to support the digestion and build Qi. Many people find a treatment itself is deeply relaxing, and a calmer nervous system going into the evening can make a difference to how easily sleep comes.
Sometimes herbs are necessary
Herbal formulas tend to be where the longer-term shifts happen, and they’re prescribed to the pattern, not the symptom. Your practitioner will prescribe a personalised formula based on your specific pattern.
A quick note
If poor sleep has been going on for months, or you snore heavily, stop breathing at night, or feel low or anxious most days, speak with your GP as well. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can sit alongside that care, and results vary from person to person.
If your nights have been rough, book in for a consult with our acupuncturists at Northern Beaches Integrative Practitioners. We’ll work out which pattern fits you and go from there. Book online or call the clinic on 8406 0679 to find a time that suits.
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| Dawn Lim
Chinese Medicine Practitioner & Acupuncturist In Clinic: Mon: 12pm – 7:00pm | Wed: 7am – 1:30pm
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