Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. Typically, adults need 6-8 hours of sleep per day, while children need more. Sleep is a time for the body to repair and for cells to heal. Therefore, people with insomnia are more prone to fatigue, aging, and diseases, increasing the risk of stroke.
There are many factors that can affect sleep, such as nutrition, psychology, sleeping environment, medical conditions, and bedtime habits. Treating insomnia is a way to protect health and prevent aging.
To help reduce insomnia, there are two simple folk remedies:
Place a cold stone behind your neck
Behind our necks is an acupuncture point called the fengfu point, which is believed to affect sleep. Therefore, applying pressure to this point can help treat insomnia. Placing a cold stone behind the neck can impact the fengfu point. To locate the fengfu point, touch the back of your neck and feel for a recessed area, slightly higher than the hairline at the base of the skull. This point is located along the line from the neck to the top of the head. Pressing on the fengfu point can help reduce neck pain, reduce tinnitus, dizziness, etc. According to folklore and traditional medicine, placing a few cold stones on the fengfu point can help you fall asleep more easily.
Choose clean and flat cold stones and place them on the fengfu point for about 20 minutes. Avoid placing too many stones at once and avoid leaving them for too long, as it may cause discomfort from excessive cold.
Note that you should do this when your stomach is neither full nor empty in the evening. When you place a cold stone on this point, it helps blood flow to the point, and you will feel warmth behind the neck. From there, it has the effect of helping you sleep better and more easily. In addition, this method also helps improve digestion and enhances mental clarity. Pregnant women and people with epilepsy should not apply this method.
Place slices of ginger under the soles of your feet
Almost every kitchen has ginger as it is a commonly used spice. Ginger in traditional Chinese medicine is a precious herbal medicine. Ginger has a warm and spicy taste. To treat insomnia, slice fresh ginger into thin pieces and massage them on the soles of your feet. You can also grind ginger and apply the ginger juice to the soles of your feet. Ginger helps enhance blood circulation, making it easier for you to fall asleep.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the soles of the feet are considered the second brain of the body and contain many important acupuncture points. Therefore, applying ginger to the feet along with a massage can improve blood circulation, making it easier to sleep.
When massaging, be gentle and avoid causing burns to the skin. When massaging with ginger, you should also combine foot massage. You can also place ginger in socks and wear them on your feet. You can also place ginger on the bedside to soothe your mind with the aroma of ginger.
Ginger and cold stones are inexpensive ingredients that every family has, and the methods are easy to implement. Apply them now to enjoy the health benefits without incurring extra costs.
1) Applying a cold stone to the fengfu point, located behind the neck, can improve sleep quality. The fengfu point is believed to influence sleep, and applying pressure or cold therapy can stimulate this point, aiding in better sleep and digestion, as well as enhancing mental clarity.
2) Using ginger, a common kitchen spice, is another simple remedy. Massaging the soles of your feet with thin slices of fresh ginger or applying ginger juice can improve blood circulation, making it easier to fall asleep. Alternatively, placing ginger in your socks or near your bedside can also provide soothing aromatic benefits.