Insomnia: Press Away The Pressure

Thinking about sleepless nights keeps me awake,
In my search for a solution numerous attempts do I make,
Till the answer presents itself, bringing relief in its wake,
All I need is me, myself, the healing energy within, to reach out and take.

Have you been wondering why you are unable to sleep at night? Are you looking for harmless ways to be able to have peaceful, sound sleep? Let’s try to understand the various aspects of this situation and look at what Acupressure has to offer by way of a no side-effects form of treatment.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia refers to a sleep disorder where one repeatedly has trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Sleep quality is affected despite adequate time available for it. It is closely linked to a person’s daily routine, and adversely affects not just the quality of sleep but life itself.

While Transient Insomnia lasts for about a week and Acute Insomnia upto 1 month, Chronic Insomnia can last for several months or even years.

Symptoms of Insomnia

• Sleep related: Difficulty falling asleep at night/Disturbed sleep/Waking up early
• Poor concentration, focus, and memory problems
• Frequent tension headache
• Gastrointestinal symptoms like Acid reflux
• Excessive worrying (including about sleep)
• Increased risk for depression and anxiety
• Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
• Irritability, depression, or anxiety
• Low motivation or energy
• A lack of coordination, leading to errors or accidents
• Using medication or alcohol to fall asleep
• Difficulty socializing, working, or studying

Why it occurs

Primary Insomnia is an issue byitself and mostly begins due to a prolonged period of stress and bad sleep habits. Secondary Insomnia is a result of other health issues and medication. Changes in the environment, mental health issues, and difficulties in social relationships are among common causes of Insomnia.

Treatment and Cure

Multiple therapies are combined with/without medication to treat insomnia such as

• Sleep hygiene education
• Cognitive therapy
• Relaxation therapy
• Stimulus-control therapy
• Sleep-restriction therapy

Diet, exercise, and lifestyle also play a crucial role in overcoming this issue.

• Avoid caffeinated beverages in the late afternoon or evening.
• Avoid alcohol in the evening.
• Avoid large meals right before bedtime.
• Exercising in the late afternoon or early evening (six hours before bedtime) can promote sleep.

How Acupressure  (Acutherapy) helps in treatment of Insomnia?

Acupressure is a science that understands and is able to address health and lifestyle issues by using physical touch/seeds/magnets to stimulate pressure points that correspond to different aspects of physical and mental health. It is found to be effective in treating Insomnia with special points for different types or causes of Insomnia. For example, according to Chinese Acupressure, sedation of GV 19 or UB 62, or tonification of K 6 are for inability to sleep, while CV 6 (tone) is specific to insomnia for aged, and CV 7 (sedate) is specially for insomnia due to fear.

According to Ayurvedic Acupressure, the element Agni/Fire is responsible for chemical activities of the body and hence the related organs, liver and gallbladder, are the chemical laboratory of the body. They are the basis of diseases in any of the other organs of the body. Simple treatment can be done on gallbladder ayurvedic correspondence on the left palm (below little finger-ring finger joint, mid way to the wrist) using cluster magnet or seeds like chana and black colour. The treatment of the sleep disorders has been successful in the joints of the Agni element’s related finger i.e. by applying methi seeds on left index finger top/vata joint. This is the simplest form of treatment for tiredness. More detailed treatment is available depending on whether sleep is one, two or three hours less than normal, and finally the combination of insomnia and depression. Here again we treat Gall bladder using the Gallbladder joint meridian (left index finger top/vata joint). We tone the right energies (1,4,5,8) and sedate the left energies (2,3,6,7) in pairs moving from 1-2, 4-3, 5-6, to 8-7 with increasing severity of the problem.

Additionally, the back head region of the thumb can also be treated with black colour. Applying methi seed strips on the top joint (vata joint) of the small finger and middle finger of both hands is also effective.

Color Therapy

Magnet Therapy

In this manner, Acutherapy treatment offers the possibility to diagnose specific causes and treat them effectively using the body’s own healing energy and ability. Stimulation of selected pressure points opens the door to an improved life with no side-effects whatsoever from the treatment process. The detoxification and simultaneous mental health benefits ensure a long term cure to insomnia, something that can deeply affect a person’s everyday life.

Seed Therapy

#These natural treatments are to be applied overnight and removed in the morning. Apply till the duration when you feel comfortable.

Please continue with whatever other treatments modalities you are using.

#This is not a medical Prescription.

Written by students of CareHeal Humanity Institute: Prabha S and Sharanya S

Edited by: Gagan Kaur Thukral