Natural Ways to Improve Your Sleep
Sleep should feel effortless. Yet for so many, it’s a nightly struggle. You lie awake, mind racing. Or maybe you sleep through the night but wake up exhausted as if your body never truly rested. When you struggle to rest, your body is signalling that something is out of alignment. The good news? You can restore that balance.
Let’s explore the root causes of sleep disturbance and how Acupuncture, herbal medicine and simple lifestyle shifts can help you sleep deeply and wake refreshed
The Science of Sleep
Modern medicine views sleep as a complex interaction between the brain, hormones and nervous system. Melatonin helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, while stress hormones like cortisol can keep you wired at night.
Common causes of poor sleep include:
Stress and anxiety
Screen time and blue light
Irregular sleep schedules
Medical conditions such as sleep apnea or hormone imbalances
Solutions often focus on sleep hygiene techniques, relaxation practices or medication. While these can offer relief, they don’t always address the underlying imbalances affecting sleep.
TCM Perspective
In Chinese Medicine, sleep reflects the balance of the body. When Qi and Blood flows smoothly, sleep is deep and restorative. But if Qi is stagnant, or organ energy is deficient or excessive, sleep suffers.
Here are the most common imbalances leading to poor sleep:
Heart Shen Disturbance.
This is the overactive mind. In TCM, the Heart governs the Shen (mind and consciousness). When the Shen is calm then we can fall asleep. When the Shen is unsettled and the heart is out of balance, sleep becomes light and restless
Common signs include difficulty falling asleep, vivid dreams, waking easily, anxiety.
Liver Imbalance
Do you toss and turn at night, unable to get comfortable? Stress, tension and emotions can disrupt the normal flow of the Liver Qi. This makes it difficult to relax and fall asleep.
Common signs include: restlessness, waking between 1-3 AM, feeling tense or frustrated
Spleen Imbalance
The Spleen is linked to digestion and mental clarity. When Spleen is deficient, it can lead to overthinking, worry and disrupted sleep.
Common signs include: Waking early, difficulty turning off thoughts, bloating, low energy
Kidney Imbalance
If you wake feeling hot, restless or with a dry mouth, your Kidney Yin may be depleted. This is common in stressful lifestyles, menopause or hormonal balance where the body lacks cooling nourishing energy needed for deep sleep.
Common signs include night sweats, waking hot, dry mouth, light sleep
Acupuncture for Sleep
Acupuncture helps reset the nervous system, promoting deep restorative sleep. With Acupuncture we can help to calm an overactive mind, relieve stress and emotional tension, and regulate the internal organ energy.
Some commonly used points are:
🌿 Shenmen (HT 7) - This point helps with anxiety, restlessness and frequent waking
🌿 Anmian - for insomnia and racing thoughts
🌿 Taichong (LR 3) - for stress, frustration and tension
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Sleep
Herbal medicine can gently restore balance, support organ energy and calm the body.
Common herbs include:
🌿 Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed) - Calms the shen and soothes anxiety
🌿 He Huan Pi (Silk Tree Bark) - eases emotional stress and tension
🌿 Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Root) - nourishes yin to reduce night sweats and overheating.
Since herbs work best when tailored to your unique constitution, it’s always recommended to consult a registered Chinese Medicine practitioner.
Self-care Tips to Support Restful Sleep
Creating a sleep-supportive routine can make a world of difference. Try these TCM-inspired practices:
🌙 Go to bed by 10:30pm to align with Chinese Medicine body clock.
🌙 Avoid bright lights and blue screens after sunset, shift to soft, warm lighting to support Yin energy and signal to your body it’s time to rest.
🌙 Soak your feet with warm water for 10-15 minutes in the evening to support Kidney energy
Your body wants to rest, it may just need a little support. At Luna Chinese Medicine, we offer personalised Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments to help you sleep better, feel more balanced and wake up energised.
If you’re ready to improve your sleep naturally, call us on (08) 6285 7529 or book your consultation online.
