Peaceful Sleep
Dear Patient,
Insomnia—it’s a condition nearly all of us have suffered at one time or another. It manifests in so many ways: being unable to fall asleep, tossing and turning all night, waking up in the wee hours. It can be a nuisance or it can profoundly affect our quality of life. We all need a good night’s sleep, and we all go through times when we can’t seem to achieve it no matter how hard we try.
An Mian (pronounced ahn mee-in) is one of my favorite points to needle for insomnia. The name means Peaceful Sleep. It’s located at the base of the skull, so it’s easy to massage on yourself (scroll down for location notes). Patients often tell me they sleep better after a treatment that includes An Mian.
But An Mian is really just a symptomatic treatment, because insomnia is almost always a distress signal from your Shen, or Spirit. The Heart is the home of the Shen in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the filter of the emotions. When you’re overwhelmed emotionally, when the pressures of life won’t let up, when it’s all just too much, the qi of the Heart becomes scattered. The feelings you might be able to ignore during your waking hours come home to roost at night. And a Heart crowded with unprocessed emotions doesn’t leave much room for the Shen to rest.
Insomnia is a way of getting your attention. The Heart needs help. Sometimes help comes from sleep aids or supplements, or acupuncture, or sleep hygiene practices, or slow, deep soul work. Sometimes it’s all of the above. But insomnia can’t be ignored. Because your Shen does the hard work of carrying you through your days with intention and compassion and love, and it deserves a peaceful sleep.
Love and gratitude,
Your Acupuncturist
P.S. Every Wednesday I write about a different acupuncture point. Are there any you’re curious about—let me know!
Location Notes:
An Mian is located behind the ear at the base of the skull. First, find the depression behind the earlobe. Trace your finger back towards the back of the neck, along the base of the skull. An Mian is about 1-1.5 inches behind the depression behind the earlobe. As always, you’ll know you’re in the right spot when it feels tender.