Insomnia: Soothing Help from a Beautiful Goddess - 2
From China
I was recently introduced to Shui De An Capsules for insomnia. The Chinatown herb
shop capsules contain:
• White mulberry -the main ingredient; nourishes blood and moisturizes. Used for
dizziness, insomnia, premature graying hair, constipation of elderly people, or
diabetes "thirsting and wasting" type diseases of chronic thirst.
• Chinese ginseng - digestive and balancing, necessary in order to prevent diarrhea
when moistening tonics like white mulberry are used.
• Jujube red Chinese date (quieting for the heart and anti-anxiety)
• Oriental arborvitea
• Fu ling (a diuretic)
• Dan shen (red sage to improve circulation, reduce cholesterol, and ease heart stress)
• Anemarrhena (reduces fever)
• Dwarf lily (cools lungs and reduces stress and feverish conditions)
• Schizandra (a rejuvenating tonic for vision and energy)
• Atractylodes (for bloating and indigestion)
• Chinese licorice (reduces spasm, digestive and supports immunity)
• Polygala (Yuan zhi root) "calms the spirit and facilitate the flow of Qi in the heart: used
for insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness and mental disorientation. This
herb was traditionally used by Daoists as a tea to improve visions.
Put this all together and you have a major herb for moistening and rejuvenating the
senses, herbs to ease heart-action and produce calm and rest. The normal dose is
1 - 2 capsules before bed. I tried it and by the third night enjoyed falling asleep before
my usual hour of 3 in the morning. I stayed asleep and had nice dreams.
I can recommend either of the above natural remedies and expect to become more
calm and intelligent from using them.
ANALYSIS
It is interesting to approach the problem of insomnia from several angles. There are
usually a number of reasons why we cannot sleep. A sleep drug may feel like a
knock-out medicine that, by regulating brain chemicals, sedates energy and the mind.
An Asian approach to troubled sleep patterns is mult-faceted as illustrated by the
above remedies. Both Saraswat Churna and Shui De An Capsules contain herbs
that regulate digestion, circulation, enhance vitality, and ease troubled emotions. These
are the root causes of insomnia. Individual issues aggravate problems in these areas.
It is interesting to see that we require a stimulant in order to sleep well. The East Indian
Saraswat powder contains ashwagandha, a form of ginseng that enhances muscle
strength, and the Chinese formula contains ginseng, a stimulant. In order for the heart
and internal processes to work well--and for us to rest well--we require vitality not sedation.
It is also interesting to realize how Asian medicine treats anxiety and worry. According to
Chinese traditional theory, the site of worry in the body is the spleen/pancreas. If we
weaken that aspect of digestion with rich, fat, low value foods, the result will be bloating,
water retention, poor absorption--and on an emotional plane--worry. How interesting.
Imagine reducing the negative effects of obsession--mulling over problems, lying awake
trying to decide what to do--with an herbal remedy for improved absorption. It makes
sense. If we can digest food better, we can digest problems as well. Blood sugar balance,
at the very least, remains healthy.
The Indian formula goes one step further. The digestive herbs ginger, pippli
(pepper longun) and black pepper do more than improve digestion. They themselves are
an energy stimulant. Apparently, to overcome worry and obsession we need drive to get
out of a rut. Getting out of a rut gets us to sleep.
The richness of Asian healing traditions comes from the realization that people are
complex and that the body, mind, and spirit are related in ways we barely comprehend.