Sleep

Health Topics

Sleep: Quality vs. Quantity

We all know that sleep is essential to our overall health, but did you know that it’s not just about how long we sleep, but how well we sleep? The quality of your rest is just as important, if not more, than the quantity of hours you spend in bed.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), sleep is a deeply restorative process. It is not simply a break from the day, but a time when your body and mind rejuvenate. However, achieving restful sleep isn’t always as easy as just lying down. There are a few key factors that determine the quality of your sleep:

Feeling Physically Rested

When you wake up in the morning, you should feel physically rested, without tightness, soreness, or stiffness. If you experience these symptoms, it could indicate that your body hasn’t fully relaxed and rejuvenated overnight. Magnesium plays a key role in muscle relaxation and liver support during sleep. The right form and dosage of magnesium can help your body release tension and allow for a deeper, more restorative sleep.

Mental Refreshment

A good night’s sleep should leave you feeling mentally refreshed, not groggy or foggy. If you wake up with mental cloudiness, it may be due to a blood sugar imbalance caused by a late-night snack. Consuming too many carbohydrates before bed can spike your blood sugar, interfering with your body’s ability to wind down. Keeping your blood sugar levels steady by eating a small, balanced snack before bed can help you wake up feeling mentally clear and rejuvenated.

Ease in Opening Your Eyes

The way your eyes feel when you wake up is a strong indicator of sleep quality. In TCM, the liver is closely connected to the eyes, and if your liver hasn’t fully recovered overnight, your eyes may feel heavy or sluggish. If this happens frequently, it could be a sign that your liver function needs support. Ensuring good liver health during sleep is crucial to waking up feeling refreshed.

Start Your Journey

Want to improve your sleep quality?

By focusing on these three key areas—physical rest, mental refreshment, and liver health—you can significantly improve the quality of your sleep. Don’t just aim for more sleep; aim for better sleep!