My Sleep Struggles
I used to easily fall asleep anywhere, but soon found myself battling insomnia, waking up at 3 a.m. daily and unable to fall back asleep. This sleep deprivation affected my work, relationships, and health. Conventional remedies left me groggy, so I turned to acupuncture for a solution.
Discovering Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
I sought help from Weidong Lu, L.Ac., at the New England School of Acupuncture. TCM links energy flow (qi) through 12 meridians, connected to emotions and organs. My imbalance was traced to the liver meridian, responsible for stress and frustration.
Acupuncture Treatment Experience
During sessions, Lu targeted my liver and heart meridians with acupuncture to restore balance. The treatment also involved rotating the needles for effectiveness and using heat to enhance the process. Over six sessions, my symptoms began to improve. Though I still woke up occasionally, my ability to fall back asleep increased significantly.
The Results
Three weeks later, my insomnia has notably reduced, though stress remains a challenge. By managing my workload and finding time for myself, I hope to continue improving through acupuncture.
Understanding the Meridians
- Heart (Anxiety): Waking up easily.
- Liver (Anger/Stress): Difficulty falling asleep, waking between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
- Lungs (Grief): Waking between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.
- Spleen (Worry): Dream-disturbed sleep, waking at the same time every night.
TCM offers a holistic approach to understanding and treating insomnia through energy balance and emotional connections.
