Nutrition Corner With Soeon Park, L.Ac.

Support For Good Sleep

TCM regards insomnia as a sign of internal disharmony. Several herbs can help in resuming harmonious function of distressed organs to rebalance the body, calm the mind, settle the nervous system and build the resources that the body needs for deep rest and relaxation. Here are some common herbs for good sleep. 

Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) is a light yellow flower that’s been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine for insomnia. In China, people drink it as a tea every day to clear excessive heat in the liver from inflammation, toxin accumulation or bad temper, and to calm the nerves. Add a handful of goji berries (Gou Qi Zi) to balance the chrysanthemum’s inherent nourishing properties and to help soothe the liver and relax overstimulated nerves. Also helpful for promoting restful sleep is the longan fruit (Long Yan Rou), which is said to improve circulation. These herbs can be eaten raw, dried, or steeped as a tea along with a few red jujubes. Jujube seed (Suan Zao Ren) is commonly prescribed to treat insomnia; it strengthens circulation and calms the mind, making you less irritable and restless.

For convenient herbal support, consider purchasing our natural blend of Chinese herbs “Sanctuary | SLEEP Capsules,” available at Tao of Wellness clinics. This non-drowsy, non-addictive formula is designed to provide relief from restlessness, irritability and other symptoms resulting from a lack of sleep.