Night awakenings: what causes them and what to do about them
Insomnia may seem trivial, but it’s interesting to know that depending on the time of day it occurs, there is an explanation!
We all dream of falling asleep quickly and peacefully, and having a good night’s rest. Unfortunately, for many of us, it is almost impossible to escape from nocturnal awakenings those annoying little moments when we wake up in the middle of the night. It often happens for no apparent reason and not necessarily because of a bad dream . And the worst part is when you look at the time on your clock… and notice that, strangely enough, these episodes tend to happen around the same time.
Insomnia: What is it due to?
But if your sleep is disturbed, it’s probably because your body is trying to give you a message. There is a physical as well as a psychological explanation. These signs, the traditional Chinese medicine has (perhaps) deciphered them. Depending on what time you wake up, they will mean different things.
What time is it?
If you wake up between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., your gallbladder is talking to you. It stores the bile, secreted by the liver, which allows digestion. Dysfunction and disturbed sleep between these times, may simply mean that you have eaten a heavy or fatty meal. But according to traditional Chinese medicine, waking up at this time can also be associated with emotional disappointment.
If you wake up between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m., your liver is acting up. It is activated to eliminate toxins and purify the body. Drinking a glass of water can soothe you and help you get back to sleep. But the liver is also the “organ of anger, frustration, resentment and planning,” according to one specialist. If you feel stuck at work, overworked, anxious, or if your nervous system is in tatters, this will often wake up the liver along with the detoxification process.
If you wake up between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m., your lungs are activated. Perhaps you have problems with breathing or oxygenation of the body. But waking up at this time may also mean that you have a psychological burden. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that sadness and grief live in the lungs.
If you wake up between 5 and 7 a.m., your large intestine is completing the digestion process. And it is thus on the side of your food that the problem lies. Unless you are upset and need to let go of something.
Insomnia: what can be done about it?
So there are a thousand and one reasons to wake up at night. Too much food late at night, too much time spent in front of a screen, not enough physical activity stress. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to try to solve this problem. You need to review your eating habits, avoid screens before going to bed, exercise more during the day, but also think about taking care of yourself. Meditate, read, drink a hot beverage before going to bed! These are just a few simple examples, but the important thing is to relax before you go to bed! Good night!
