Insomnia is not only short sleep. It can involve difficulty falling asleep, repeated waking, waking too early, daytime fatigue, poor concentration and irritability. Stress, anxiety, low mood, caffeine, alcohol, shift work, pain, sleep apnoea and some medicines may contribute.
TCM assessment considers the sleep pattern together with dreams, palpitations, hot flushes, digestion and emotional state. Support should also include a consistent wake time, a wind-down routine, less evening screen exposure and caffeine, and avoiding alcohol as a sleep aid.
Insomnia lasting several weeks and affecting daily life, loud snoring or pauses in breathing, marked low mood, chest pain or persistent palpitations requires medical assessment. TCM may form part of a broader plan but does not replace sleep or mental-health care.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia adjusts sleep habits, time in bed and related worry. Sleeping medicines require individual review of age, fall risk, other medicines and breathing-related sleep problems.
