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I Toss and Turn All Night Until Morning, the Cycle of Insomnia, You Can Escape It Through Korean Medicine.

Are you suffering from the pain of tossing and turning all night only to face the morning, even while hearing that "sleep is the best medicine"? If you have difficulty falling asleep even when lying down, or if you wake up frequently in the early morning and start the next day with fatigue and anxiety, it may not just be a problem of sleep itself. Insomnia, which has become a chronic disease of modern people, is a significant signal that the balance of our body and mind, especially the autonomic nervous system, has collapsed beyond simple sleep deprivation. Many people who visit Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic in Songdo for insomnia complain of these very difficulties.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of the feeling of "tossing and turning all night until morning": ① Persistent state of brain arousal due to excessive stress / ② Imbalance of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic hyperactivity) / ③ Irregular sleep habits and collapse of physical rhythms Dalimchae Clinic aims for treatment that creates a fundamental environment where the brain can rest and the body can recover through autonomic stabilization, rather than simply putting one to sleep.

We often think of insomnia as just "not being able to sleep." However, tossing and turning all night can be a warning light that an abnormality has occurred in the autonomic nervous system, an important regulatory system in our body. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for essential life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, digestion, respiration, body temperature regulation, and sleep, regardless of our will. Especially to fall asleep, the body must become relaxed and comfortable. However, if the sympathetic nervous system is excessively hyperactivated due to stress or overwork, the body continues to maintain a state of tension. The brain cannot rest at night, like an overheated engine. This inhibits the secretion of sleep hormones such as melatonin and interferes with deep sleep, potentially leading to a decrease in sleep quality.

In Korean medicine, insomnia is not viewed simply as a lack of sleep but is interpreted as a state of 'Yin and Yang imbalance' due to functional imbalances in the internal organs and problems with the circulation of Qi and blood. It is the law of nature to be active during the day when Yang energy (active energy) is activated and to fall asleep comfortably at night when Yin energy (recovery energy) becomes dominant. If this balance is broken, insomnia occurs. In particular, when the functional balance of the heart and liver is broken due to stress and overwork, or when the flow of energy in the body is not smooth, physical tension and anxiety persist, which is believed to cause sleep disorders and autonomic nervous system abnormalities simultaneously. From this perspective, Dalimchae Clinic, a Songdo insomnia clinic, focuses on finding and treating the root cause of insomnia to enhance the body's own power to recover.

According to a 2021 YTN report and the results of a study by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine published in the international academic journal 'Nature and Science of Sleep,' 'electroacupuncture treatment' conducted on 150 patients who had suffered from insomnia for more than three months showed an effect of reducing the insomnia severity score by nearly half. In particular, even after the completion of 10 treatments over 4 weeks, an improvement effect that lasted for more than 8 weeks — a remarkable change — was confirmed. Through this, researchers confirmed the possibility that acupuncture treatment can show a long-term effect in insomnia, not just a short-term effect.

In addition, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis study published in the international journal 'International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health' in 2022 analyzed 24 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that independently administered herbal treatment to 1,942 post-stroke insomnia (PSI) patients. The result reported that herbal treatment showed a statistically significant advantage in improving sleep quality. This study suggested that herbal treatment has fewer side effects than psychotropic drugs and may have potential benefits in improving sleep quality. In particular, in a 2022 study by Professor Yoon Sung-woo's team at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, which analyzed the effects of herbal treatment on insomnia in cancer patients, herbal treatment showed a significant improvement in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and indicated a statistically significant improvement over taking sleeping pills alone. It is said that in this study, Gamiguibi-tang and Cheonwangbosim-dan, which use Sanjoin (Zizyphi Spinosae Semen) as the main medicinal herb, were mainly utilized.

These research data show that herbal treatment for insomnia goes beyond a simple psychological placebo, showing significant effects in objective indicators and having a positive impact on autonomic nervous system regulation and sleep quality improvement. At Dalimchae Clinic, based on these scientific grounds, we provide precise treatments tailored to each individual's symptoms and causes to regain the balance of the autonomic nervous system.

At Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch, insomnia is diagnosed as a state of brain hyperarousal originating from an 'imbalance of the autonomic nervous system,' and we focus on autonomic stabilization treatment to correct this. When the balance of the autonomic nervous system is broken, the brain cannot rest and always maintains a state of tension. In Korean medicine, this is also expressed as an imbalance of 'Suseunghwagang (水升火降).' That is, the head is hot and the lower abdomen is cold, meaning heat is concentrated in the upper body and the brain is excessively excited.

Our goal is to lower the excessive heat of the nervous system and create an environment where the brain can relax and rest comfortably. To this end, we provide herbal prescriptions effective for autonomic nervous system regulation along with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and cupping therapy. In particular, by giving direct stimulation to the acupoints that regulate the core pathways of the autonomic nervous system, we inhibit the hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and induce the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, thereby relieving tension in the body and mind and inducing deep sleep. This process is like turning off the switch of an overheated circuit breaker and stabilizing the system. This integrated Korean medicine treatment helps improve not only insomnia but also symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and anxiety that accompany autonomic imbalance.

Check how many of the following items apply to you.

• I often cannot fall asleep for more than 30 minutes after going to bed.
• I wake up at least once in the early morning and have difficulty falling back asleep.
• There are three or more days a week when the total sleep time is less than 6 hours.
• I don't feel refreshed even after sleeping and feel fatigue and drowsiness during the day.
• Daily life is hindered due to insomnia, or it is psychologically difficult.
• I often become sensitive, anxious, or restless.
• I have poor digestion, heart palpitations, headaches, or dizziness.
• My shoulders and neck often feel tight, and my whole body feels constantly tense.

Judgment Criteria:

• 3 or more items: Autonomic imbalance-induced insomnia is suspected. It is recommended to consider complex Korean medicine treatment at a Songdo insomnia clinic.
• 5 or more items: There is a high possibility of chronic autonomic-type insomnia. We recommend starting recovery through professional diagnosis and treatment immediately.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Insomnia and Korean Medicine Treatment

Q. I toss and turn all night until morning; how long does the insomnia treatment take? A. The duration of insomnia treatment varies depending on the severity of the individual's symptoms, the cause, and lifestyle habits. While short-term symptom improvement may appear relatively quickly, fundamental treatment through recovery of autonomic balance requires steady management and usually takes weeks to several months.

Q. Can insomnia be treated with Korean medicine? A. Yes, insomnia is a condition that can be sufficiently improved through Korean medicine treatment. Various Korean medicine treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion have been confirmed through multiple studies to be effective in improving sleep quality by regulating the balance of the autonomic nervous system and calming the state of brain hyperarousal.

Q. When I can't sleep, can it heal naturally? A. Temporary insomnia can improve naturally through lifestyle improvements or stress management alone. However, if it has progressed to chronic insomnia or if the autonomic imbalance is severe, it may be difficult to recover without professional help.

Q. I have anxiety and insomnia together; can they be treated at the same time? A. Yes, anxiety and insomnia are closely related to the autonomic nervous system and often appear together. At Dalimchae Clinic, we can expect a positive impact on both symptoms by lowering anxiety and improving sleep quality simultaneously through autonomic stabilization treatment.

The pain of "tossing and turning all night until morning" is not a problem that can be solved by just enduring it. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body will respond faster than you think. Bring your symptoms as they are. At Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch, we will find the cause together and help you regain a comfortable night.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Brain/Autonomic Nervous System Treatment Standards Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Oh Hyunmin (Insomnia Column)

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