Easing insomnia naturally

While there is a vast selection of prescription medications on the market to treat insomnia, these medications come with serious considerations and most medical professionals agree that they are not meant for long-term use.

Easing insomnia naturally  

by Maria Troia — 

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Insomnia is a disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep or both.” According to medicinenet.com, this condition affects 30 to 50 percent of the general population. Additionally, up to 10 percent of them suffer from chronic insomnia (insomnia lasting more than three weeks).

This disturbance in our sleep patterns causes utter havoc on our overall health, contributing to poor focus and concentration, depression, anxiety, headaches, diabetes and even congestive heart failure.

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that insomnia causes daytime drowsiness, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating and impaired ability to perform normal activities. These symptoms can lead to a higher incidence of accidents, some serious and even fatal.

A 2012 study out of Laval University in Quebec, found that people with insomnia are more than five times as likely to experience anxiety and depression, and have more than double the risk of congestive heart failure and diabetes.

Recently, there has been much discussion about the link between obesity and insomnia. Research out of UCLA has shown that insomnia causes a disturbance in ghrelin and leptin, hormones that affect weight by telling the body when it is hungry and when it is satisfied.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism validated the connection between obesity and insomnia in a study that showed the link between insulin resistance (a component in type II diabetes) and insomnia.

Offering a far more direct and sobering message, a long-term study published in the journal Sleep stated that sleeping less than six hours per night increases the chance of an early death.

While there is a vast selection of prescription medications on the market to treat insomnia, these medications come with serious considerations and most medical professionals agree that they are not meant for long-term use.

In March 2007, the FDA issued a warning about some of these medications, stating that they can cause allergic reactions and dangerous sleep-related behaviors, such as “sleep driving.”

For those seeking a more holistic approach to the treatment of insomnia, the combination of AMMA Therapy® (a form of acupressure) and the Bach Flower remedies offers a unique and effective alternative by restoring balance to the energy body and the emotional body.

International studies have shown that acupressure specifically eases insomnia. In a 2005 study by Kyung Hee University in Korea, researchers found auricular (ear) acupressure alleviated insomnia in elderly patients.

In a 2008 study out of San Gerardo Hospital in Italy, it was found that pressure applied to HT 7, an acupressure point on the wrist, resulted in improved sleep quality.

In 2010, the International Journal of Nursing Studies also published research that demonstrated that acupressure decreased the incidence of insomnia in a study group for up to two weeks.

AMMA Therapy is an ancient form of bodywork based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. It focuses on promoting the movement of qi, blood and fluids through the meridians by applying a gentle rocking massage and the manual stimulation of specific acupressure points.

AMMA Therapy is unique in that it is a full-body treatment, which also uses the traditional Chinese methods of tongue and pulse to assess the root cause of disease.

After a thorough intake that takes roughly a half hour, the tongue and pulse examinations provide information to the practitioner regarding the quality of qi, blood and fluids, as well as various organs. The specific time of the night when the patient experiences insomnia can also give clues about the source of the imbalance. Different hours on the clock correspond to different organs.

When combined with the Bach flower remedies, AMMA Therapy can be especially powerful. While AMMA Therapy seeks to balance the flow of vital life force through the channels, the Bach remedies work on specific emotional stresses that can get in the way of peaceful sleep.

There are 38 remedies in total, and after an approximate one hour consultation, seven remedies are chosen and put into a formula for the patient. The formula is then taken four times per day, four drops per dose.

Depending on the cause of the insomnia, a formula may contain flower essences for fear, shock, terror, irritability, over-excitement, feeling overwhelmed, or experiencing unwanted and repetitive thoughts.

The Bach remedies have even been recommended by Dr. Mehmet Oz. Developed in the early 1900s by British surgeon and bacteriologist Dr. Edward Bach, they are safe and gentle for all.

Maria Troia, MSAc, MAEd, LMT, NCTMB is the owner of East-West Holistic Healing Arts located in South Chandler. She is an approved instructor and specializes in AMMA Therapy®. She is certified by the Nelson Bach Foundation. EastWestHolistic.net or 480-313-6260.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 32, Number 2, April/May 2013.