Shallow Sleep and Waking Up Often: A Hidden Danger to Your Heart? One Simple Trick Before Bed to Regulate Qi, Calm the Mind, and Relieve Heart Pressure
Miss Chen had terrible sleep quality. She couldn’t fall asleep when she wanted to, and even when she did manage to sleep, she often woke up around 2 or 3 AM and couldn’t fall back asleep. She always felt tired during the day, which made her daily life miserable. After sticking to a daily 30-minute Qi Gong practice, she finally overcame years of insomnia. She now says that being able to get a good night's sleep every night is her greatest happiness.
Studies have found that nearly two-thirds of patients with a history of heart disease also suffer from sleep disorders. Men with sleep problems face a 2.6 times higher risk of heart attacks and a 1.5 to 4 times higher risk of stroke.
Qi management expert Master Bai Yin reminds us that long-term sleep deprivation can damage the cardiovascular system and lead to weakened heart function. She recommends practicing calming techniques before bed to nourish the essence, Qi, and spirit. This can help improve sleep, increase its depth, and alleviate fatigue.
Frequent Dreams and Early Waking: Signs of Qi and Blood Deficiency
According to the World Health Organization, one-third of people worldwide suffer from sleep disorders, including difficulty falling asleep, shallow sleep with frequent dreams, and waking up multiple times during the night. Poor sleep quality leaves people feeling tired even after waking, affecting their energy during the day, reducing focus, and lowering work or study efficiency.
People over 40 are especially prone to early waking. Qi management expert Master Bai Yin warns that if you wake up in the middle of the night and find it hard to fall back asleep, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue. For example, people with diabetes often wake up frequently to urinate; those with hepatitis, gastritis, or pre-existing heart conditions also tend to struggle with poor sleep.
Sleep disorders reflect imbalances in the body's Qi, blood, and Yin-Yang, which can lead to organ dysfunction over time. For instance, excessive heart and liver fire can cause insomnia; disharmony in the spleen and stomach can lead to restless sleep; and liver and kidney Yin deficiency can make it difficult to stay asleep, causing frequent waking.
A key point to note is that from 1 AM to 4 AM, Qi and blood circulate through the body's organs, and their demand for energy increases. During this time, the heart bears a heavier burden. People with Qi and blood deficiencies often wake up during these hours and find it hard to return to sleep. This can severely impact heart health, as many heart disease patients experience attacks or even sudden death in the early morning hours.
Insufficient Sleep and Low Energy: Qi and Blood Deficiency as the Root Cause
The famous Ming Dynasty doctor Zhang Jingyue believed that the causes of insomnia generally fall into two categories: one is external factors like colds or diarrhea, and the other is Qi and blood deficiency. In other words, sleep disorders are closely linked to Qi and blood imbalances. To solve insomnia, one must first address the condition of Qi and blood.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is said that "the heart governs the blood vessels" and "the liver stores blood." Additionally, "the heart houses the spirit" and "the liver stores the soul." When a person suffers from Qi and blood deficiency, or when blood flow is stagnant, the spirit and soul have no place to rest, leading to insomnia, poor sleep, frequent dreams, and easy waking.
Master Bai Yin explains from the perspective of Qi theory that people with Qi deficiency often struggle with sleep. When vital energy is weak, it leads to insufficient production of Qi and blood, causing a drop in the body's energy levels. This leaves a person constantly fatigued, with poor sleep and a greater susceptibility to illness, like frequent colds.
Such individuals often experience muscle stiffness and tension throughout the body, making it difficult to relax and sleep well. As sleep quality declines, metabolism also suffers, especially accelerating skin aging. This results in dull, dry, and flaky skin upon waking, along with deepening wrinkles and spots on the face.
Regulate Qi and Blood to Calm the Mind and Sleep Peacefully
Master Bai Yin points out that the main cause of Qi deficiency is long-term stress and the accumulation of fatigue. Many people overwork themselves, depleting their vital energy, and lack regular, effective exercise. Over time, this leads to weak Qi and blood circulation, a condition known as "excessive work depletes Qi."
For those with Qi deficiency, the most important treatment is to replenish Qi and nourish the blood. Qigong exercises can help balance the Qi, blood, and Yin-Yang in the body, providing an overall boost in energy and nourishing the organs. When the body's organ functions are properly supported, sleep quality naturally improves.
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