How to Treat Insomnia and Vivid Dreams at Night

When it comes to treating insomnia and vivid dreams, let's first understand the concept of normal sleep and dreaming. Modern medicine generally views sleep as an active, periodic state of rest for the body and mind. Approximately one-third of a person's life is spent in sleep, which highlights the importance of sleep in maintaining health and vitality.

Dreaming is also considered a normal physiological phenomenon. Scientific research has shown that dreams serve as a means to balance the psychological world of the body. Experiencing vivid dreams is not necessarily about the frequency of dreaming, but rather the level of dream recall. People who have vivid dreams often have shorter periods of deep sleep and lower sleep quality. However, if vivid dreams start to disrupt normal sleep, it should be a cause for concern.

Various factors such as underlying illnesses, mental stress, environmental changes, intense physical activity before bedtime, or heavy meals can contribute to sleep problems. Some individuals struggle with difficulty falling asleep, tossing and turning until the later part of the night. Others may fall asleep normally but wake up around two or three o'clock and struggle to fall back asleep. Some experience restless sleep, constantly dreaming and easily waking up with even slight movements. Daytime sleepiness and inability to fall asleep upon going to bed are also common symptoms of insomnia.

How to treat insomnia and vivid dreams?

1. Start by objectively evaluating the severity and nature of your insomnia. If it is temporary or occasional, there is no need to overly worry. The most important step is to adjust your sleep habits and restore a regular biological rhythm. Dietary therapy (such as consuming millet, jujube, walnuts, milk, etc.), foot soaking, and traditional Chinese medicine (such as Sanbao Dan, Tianwang Buxin Dan) can often help regulate sleep.

2. Establish a regular lifestyle with scheduled sleep and develop your own biological clock. Additionally, engage in moderate exercise for at least half an hour to an hour each day.

3. If insomnia is caused by an underlying medical condition, it is important to address and treat the primary disease. In general, as the underlying condition is resolved, insomnia tends to improve.

4. If insomnia persists despite treatments targeting the causes, psychological factors, and physical relaxation, or if you are unable to assess your condition, it is advisable to seek medical attention rather than resorting to sedatives. The correct approach is to undergo a thorough examination and diagnosis. For example, the EPG brain neurotransmitter detection instrument at the Beijing Junyi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital can provide an accurate diagnosis of the causes, severity, and nature of insomnia in a convenient and cost-effective manner. Once diagnosed, appropriate medication or other treatment methods can be selected.

For individuals who frequently suffer from insomnia at night, the following foods can be consumed as remedies:

- Milk: Milk contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid for the body. Drinking a glass of milk before bedtime provides enough tryptophan to induce sleep. The feeling of satiety after drinking milk also enhances its hypnotic effect.

- Walnuts: Walnuts are a nourishing food that can help with weak nerves, forgetfulness, insomnia, vivid dreams, and loss of appetite. Consuming a few walnut kernels in the morning and evening is beneficial for sleep.

- Longan: Longan fruit has a sweet and warm nature and is non-toxic. Longan flesh nourishes the heart and spleen, enriches the blood, and calms the mind. It can be used to treat insomnia, forgetfulness, and nervous weakness. Longan fruit is also included in TCM formulas such as "Gui Pi Wan" for treating deficiencies in the heart and spleen, as well as insomnia.

- Lotus seeds: Lotus seeds have a calming effect on the heart and can alleviate restlessness, excessive dreaming, and insomnia. One can prepare a decoction of lotus seeds and a pinch of salt, and consume it before bedtime.

How to treat frequent nighttime insomnia? Vinegar can be used as follows: When feeling tired and having difficulty sleeping, take one tablespoon of vinegar, mix it with warm water, and drink it slowly. While drinking, calm your mind and close your eyes, and soon you will be able to fall asleep peacefully. Insomnia can cause not only work, study, and lifestyle disturbances but also other health problems, negatively impacting overall well-being.