• Sleeping Stages and Need
• Airway Pressure Advantages
• Sleep Apnea Diagnosing
• Sleep Apnea Causes & treatment
• Sleep Apnea Treatment
• Causes of Excessive Sleepiness
• Child Settling Problems
• Sleep Disorders
• Sleep Disturbances
• Dreams Psychology
• What Happens During Sleep
• Excessive Sleepiness Trouble Shooting
• Common Factors Producing Insomnia
• Family Bed-Sleeping with Baby
• Teach Child Good Sleep Habits
• Know about How Babies Sleep
• How Long to Sleep and Need
• Idiopathic Hypersomnia Reasons
• Insomnia Causes
• Insomnia Treatment
• Insomnia Definition and Cause
• International Health Problem
• Medications Helps Child Sleep Better
• Medications Improves Sleep Cycle
• Hard to Get up in the Morning
• First Move Against Insomnia
• Narcolepsy Sleep Attacks
• How Narcolepsy is Diagnosed
• Know About Night Waking
• Nightmares & Terrors
• Nightmares to Frightened
• Nocturnal Myoclonus Movement
• Restore Normal Breathing During Sleep
• Oral Appliances Treatment Options
• Overcome Common Aging Sleep Problems
• Parasomnia Exam and Tests
• Pre-School Children Problem
• Factors Reducing Treatments Effects
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• School Age Children Sleep Problems
• Sleep Problems for Elders
• Sleep and Aging Problems
• Relief Social Stress by Insomnia
• Sleep Disorder FAQ
• Sleeping Related Glossary

Insomnia : Treatment

The theoretical foundation of Taijiquan is the ancient philosophy of Daoism. There is a proverb in the Dao De Jing which says "the heart is empty, the stomach is full, the will is soft, and the bones are strong." The meaning of this is that when the mind/spirit maintains tranquillity without any desires, the abdomen is filled with original qi, and when the will of contention is gone then the body will be strong and healthy. Another proverb in the same classics states "man is the whole, the whole is heaven, heaven is the Dao, the Dao is the eternal, no body and no danger." The meaning of the proverb is that only when man is unselfish can he be flexible and thorough and when he is flexible and thorough then he conforms to nature. Only by conforming to nature can he balance out Yin and Yang. When Yin and Yang are balanced then he can remain for a long time and when this occurs harm will not come to him for a lifetime. Another proverb from the Dao De Jing asks "Which is more, body or wealth?" The meaning to this is which is more valuable, life or wealth? One additional proverb states "devotion to emptiness protects tranquillity." The meaning behind this proverb is to earnestly strive for spirit and silence and then tranquillity will be maintained. "Tranquillity and inaction (Qingjing Wuwei)" is a major viewpoint in Daoist philosophy. This is the way in which Daoists conduct themselves in society. The root of the self is in tranquillity and by returning to this tranquil way we are returning to the original source. In this way, we comprehend all natural processes and can stand on undefeated ground.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, more than 80 percent of diseases are brought about due to psychological factors. Hence, modern medicine is advancing toward a more wholistic approach to the mind/body connection. An important part in this advancement will be geared toward the body's inborn ability to heal itself. Cultivation through the practice of Taijiquan is a form of medical treatment that directly combines the important elements of the mind and body. The unique characteristics of Taijiquan are to move externally while remaining calm on the inside. Only in this way can realistic results be obtained from practice. An example of this is during the transition from "Commence Taiji" to "Left Wardoff" in "Grasp Sparrow's Tail." While moving into the Left Wardoff posture, the body sinks down as the waist turns to the right allowing the toes of the right foot to turn out 80 degrees to the west. Before the toes of the right foot place down, the heel of the left foot begins to lift up to advance toward the south. At the same time these leg movements occur, the right hand passes the front of the abdomen moving in an upward arcing manner to the front of the chest. The right palm faces down with the fingers pointing to the south. The left hand moves in an arcing manner down past the front of the abdomen over to the right hip. The left palm faces up with the fingers pointing to the north. This one motion forms half of the "Left Wardoff" posture called "sitting back with embracing arms." The various requirements found in the Taiji Classics should be met during this entire process. Requirements such as "maintaining an upward energy," "sinking the shoulders and elbows," "stepping like a cat," "maintaining constant motion," as well as the other requirements found in the classics must be performed. In this way, the various degrees of motion within the arms, legs, and torso will conform to the principles of qigong and martial arts. In addition, the body movement must be under the direct control of the brain. By this, the nervous system will engage in an active manner to train and regulate the internal and external activities of the body. The main emphasis is on a wholistic practice to stimulate the function of the brain, to maintain the health of the brain's information-processing mechanism, and to close down the information pathways to the outside world. In this way practice will allow the nervous system to receive more controlled rest and stabilization than ordinary sleep or wakefulness.

Traditional Yang style Taijiquan is an art form which strictly follows the guidelines set up by the Taiji Classics. Movement is maintained under the intent/awareness of the brain thereby regulating the various postures in a precise manner. Due to the design of the postures and the entire routine, a regular conductive pathway will be established between the biological receptors and effectors of the practitioner leading to a gradual decrease in the conscious control of the brain. Consequently, the cerebrum will only need to emit a very weak conscious impulse to launch a continuous reaction to complete the desired posture being performed. This type of condition is termed "internally still externally moving." This is called "entering stillness" in Taijiquan's terminology. The frame of Taijiquan will allow a decrease in the excitation of the sympathetic nervous system. Because of this controlled situation set up in the cerebral cortex, the brain will be able to perform a type of activity that has sequential changes to it. These activities found in the brain during the practice of Taijiquan are different from those during sleep and directly before falling asleep. Because every part of every move in Taijiquan requires extreme refinement and execution, all information and stimulation from the outside world are shut off to the nervous system during practice. The practitioner is solely connected to the coordination of the upper and lower and internal and external movements of the body. This is termed "looking inward" in Daoist cultivation practices. In other words, practice should take all outside thoughts and turn its attention on the inner body. "The external body guides the internal energy and the internal energy moves the external body" is a realistic portrayal of "internally still externally moving" in the practice of Taijiquan. Taijiquan is vastly different from those practices that allow spontaneous movement. Taijiquan is a moving practice that is considered a part of medical qigong without any adverse side-effects. Only under the nervous system's regulation and coordination of the various body parts can the movements of Taijiquan produce a designated "outer shape" to guide the flow of internal energy. In return, only in this way can the internal energy launch a designated "outer shape". Along with Taijiquan's designated outer shape and with continuous practice, one will be able to realize the law of internal energy circulation as "release with excess and mend with short supply." An example of this can be seen in the way peasants designate the shape of terraced fields for rice production. The peasants designate a water level breach which conforms to the growth of rice. When large amounts of rain fall, the rain water will flow over the breach in the terrace; and when the water level is low in the paddies, rain water will reach the level needed for optimal rice growth. It is only by the designation of a breach (outer shape) dug by the peasants that the water in the terraced paddies achieve an optimal balance between excess and short supply. Similarly, Taijiquan also has a designated outer shape that will allow for a balance to be achieved thereby eliminating the risk of adverse side-effects. The author has had the opportunity to use Taijiquan to treat many people who suffer from insomnia. After the problem of insomnia had been eliminated, no recurring cases were observed for those continuing to practice Taijiquan on a regular basis. In fact, there are examples of other illnesses being treated at the same time that insomnia is treated with Taijiquan practice. People who suffer from hypertension have been able to lower their blood pressure back to normal due to the continuous practice of Taijiquan. There have been cases of obesity in which the practitioners have been able to bring their weight back to normal while gaining additional strength. The practice of Taijiquan can also aid in strengthening and normalizing the body weight of those who are weak and underweight. Accordingly, the internal energy law of "release with excess and mend with short supply" has a dual regulatory function towards illness in the various biological systems within the body. It is hoped that modern medical science will investigate and provide research into the balancing nature of traditional Taijiquan for the treatment of disease.