![]() This can lead to arrhythmia with symptoms including dream-disturbed sleep, night sweats, and insomnia. If the heart-kidney balance is disturbed, it can cause a condition called “Xin Shen Bu Jiao” in TCM, which means the heart and kidney are disconnected. The heart Yang Qi descends to strengthen the kidneys while the kidney ascends to help the heart Yin fluid, to prevent heart Heat. Harmony between the heart and kidney comes from this dynamic relationship of descending and ascending movement of Yin and Yang in the heart and kidney. The theory comes from the idea that water ascends while fire descends. The heart is a fire organ in TMC while the kidneys represent water in TCM. The heart and kidneys are aligned in TCM. Cirrhotic patients are unable to decrease their distal temperatures at the end of the day leading to impaired sleep.1 Although serious health conditions such as fatty liver disease and cirrhosis are linked to sleep disturbances, minor upsets can also bring about a noticeable change in sleep patterns. Many studies have been done and recent findings indicate that delayed sleep onset and circadian variations may also have to do with the core body temperature.1 Heat loss through vasodilation is essential for sleep onset. A common symptom among liver cirrhosis patients includes difficulty falling asleep. On top of the insomnia symptoms, a liver Yin deficiency also includes symptoms of irritability, timidity, and frequent fearful awakening. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation can also impact digestion, so a vicious cycle can occur. If the liver is deficient, it can’t break down fats properly which can lead to digestion issues such as diarrhea or constipation, both of which can affect your sleep pattern. Diet can also affect the liver since it is the organ that breaks down fats. Eventually, the liver becomes fatigued from producing abnormal amounts of glycogen which leads to high blood sugar levels, upsetting the sleep pattern. Stress can also deplete the liver’s storage of glycogen. Chronic stress or anxiety can continually overwhelm the liver leading to excess cortisol staying in the bloodstream for longer, making it difficult to fall asleep, causing chronic insomnia. Poor liver function from a liver deficiency due to stress and anxiety can compromise the cortisol clearance and lead to an increase in cortisol levels in the body. Stress, diet, and obesity can upset the liver leading to a liver deficiency. Elevated cortisol levels at night can cause difficulty falling asleep. Cortisol in the blood is supposed to be cleared by the liver during the day so that its levels are low by nighttime. Cortisol begins its rapid rise after the first morning awakening and continues for about 60 minutes. Low cortisol levels are necessary for falling asleep. ![]() The circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion has a waveform pattern with the nadir for cortisol occurring at about midnight. This causes the modification of melatonin secretion patterns with the peak of secretion being delayed and therefore the sleep onset is delayed as well.1 Patients may experience bouts of daytime fatigue or drowsiness followed by night-time alertness when the liver finally breaks down the melatonin circulating in the blood. In patients with hepatic insufficiency, melatonin clearance is slow and the levels of melatonin is high during the daytime. This includes both melatonin and cortisol. Important hormones that regulate the sleep-wake cycle are metabolized and cleared by the liver. The most common cause of difficulty falling asleep is hepatic insufficiency or liver Yin deficiency in TCM. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), imbalances of the inner organs can cause deficiencies which can lead to insomnia. Secondary insomnia is usually more chronic and is due to a health condition. Causes of primary insomnia include noise, temperature, or changes in sleep schedule such as jet lag. Primary insomnia is classified as sleep problems that are not linked to another health condition. There are two main types of insomnia, primary and secondary. Insomnia can be acute, lasting 1 night to a few weeks, or chronic, lasting 3 nights a week for 3 months or more. Symptoms of insomnia include sleepiness during the day, fatigue, low energy, diminished mental alertness, and issues with concentration. Insomnia is a sleep disorder causing difficulty falling asleep or inability to sleep throughout the night leading to insufficient sleep.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |