INTRODUCTION

According to recent medical studies, the percentage of Americans suffering from insomnia ranges from 32 to 35 percent; the percentage in Japan is 20 percent; in West Germany it is 15 percent; and the percentage of people in England suffering from insomnia is 14 percent. According to clinical research statistics compiled in mainland China, approximately ten percent of China's population suffer from insomnia. As can be observed through these percentages, the number of people suffering from insomnia around the world is quite high. In general, eliminating insomnia would benefit not only the individuals who suffer from it but also society as a whole. A treatment without the side-effects of drugs would reduce economic stress on the general population. Insomnia is most often caused by neurasthenia - a weakening in the nervous system. Common symptoms associated with insomnia are as follows: the sufferer will have increased dreaming episodes, a decrease in vigor, periods of dizziness and headaches, the inability to focus mentally, a loss in memory, a decrease in work production, and heightened irritability. Because of sleep loss, worry about losing sleep each night produces anxiety and increases the excitation of the cerebral cortex thus creating a vicious cycle of worry and sleep deprivation. Consequences can be a loss in appetite, poor digestion in the stomach and intestines, heart palpitations, and coldness in the hands and feet. Many of those who suffer from insomnia will have a weak physical body, soft bones, fatigued muscles, and tenseness in the forehead muscles. Severe cases of insomnia will lead to a loss in weight, weakening of the body, and overall suffering. In general, even though the physiological trauma to the insomnia sufferer will be minor over a set time period long-term research evidence from physiologists suggests that sufficient sleep is required for the following physiological functions to occur properly: recovery from illness, repair of damaged cells, and boosting of the immune system to ward off disease. Secretion of the various growth hormones of the pituitary gland increase with sufficient amounts of sleep. This will aid in the blending of proteins and RNA to improve the rejuvenation of cells. In addition, sufficient amounts of sleep will improve levels of energy and relieve tension brought about due to stress in life. Sleep and wakefulness are necessary and fundamental activities for all higher level organisms in the animal kingdom. These two activities will help maintain all normal physiological processes within the body. Only by obtaining sufficient amounts of sleep can we properly function in the waking state. Consequently, sleep is a very important factor for maintaining a healthy body and for preventing the onset of disease.

CASE STUDIES

For the past twenty years the author has offered monthly sessions for beginners in traditional Yang style Taijiquan. There are always several participants who suffer from insomnia (minor to chronic) within the group as a whole each session. After a period of time practicing Taijiquan, all have shown varying degrees of relief from insomnia. In fact, the majority of the suffers have received optimal benefits through practice. Based upon the author's forty years of medical practice and observations, Taijiquan is one of the most ideal forms of treatment for combating insomnia. Among all the numerous medical treatments for insomnia, Taijiquan is at the forefront as a way to rid the body/mind of this illness. The author will to describe three separate insomnia cases that have been observed during various beginner Taijiquan class: Case No. 1: Mrs. Wang, age 38, nonmilitary personnel, had been suffering from insomnia for more than ten years. The insomnia had become progressively more serious over the past four years. Each evening she took large amounts of tranquilizers to fall asleep. However, within the past year resistance to the drugs began to take place to the point where the tranquilizers did not work. Her body was so weak that she was unable to continue working and was admitted into a treatment facility for four months. Even after the four months of treatment there was no demonstratable improvement in her condition. After being released from the treatment facility, her condition returned to what it was prior to entering. Her confidence in conventional methods of treatment gradually began to fade and as a last resort she signed up for a beginner's class in Yang style Taijiquan. The class was held each morning and evening for two hours each day. After about one month of practice, she was starting to sleep up to five hours per night. Upon completion of the second month of practice, she was able to sleep for seven hours each night. This was the first time in over ten years that she was able to sleep for such a duration. Her stomach problem showed marked improvement and her overall health and working efficiency dramatically improved. Many of her close friends stated that she was a completely different person after learning Taijiquan. Mrs. Wang said that she wished that someone had recommended Taijiquan ten years ago before the problem went out of control. Case No. 2: Mrs. Zhao, age 47, accountant, had been suffering from insomnia for eight years. The severity of the insomnia had worsened during the past three years. She ingested high doses of medication each night in order to sleep. In ideal circumstances, Mrs. Zhao had been able to get only two to three hours of rest each night. Due to the effect of the insomnia, her physical body had weakened to the point where she was unable to work which lead to early retirement. Her family had spent well over ten thousand dollars on various treatments without any success. The treatments included both western and eastern methods. By chance she ran into an old friend who was learning Taijiquan. Her friend suggested she participate in the beginner's class. After participating in one month of one hour classes each morning and evening, Mrs. Zhao was able to stop taking medication. She was able to sleep four to five hours per night. After two months of practice, she was able to increase her sleep to seven hours per night. Mrs. Zhao's appetite improved and she gained four pounds. Her physical and emotional health were restored to that of eight years ago, prior to the onset of her insomnia. Case No. 3: Mr. Cao, age 21, farmer, had moved to Shenzhen from Hunan's countryside for employment. He began to suffer from insomnia approximately three months after arriving in Shenzhen. The problem became so bad over time that he was unable to sleep at all. Large doses of sleeping pills had no effect on his condition. His body became very weak and his emotional state worsened. After being laid off from work he decided to begin an exercise regimen to recover his health. Mr. Cao would run for more than two hours at a time each day. He would go outside and run at night when he could not sleep. Even though his body became stronger, he still was unable to sleep at night. At this point he had lost all hope. Through the help of friends he participated in a beginner's Taijiquan class held each day. Over a period of one month, his sleeping disorder was completely cured and his health was back to normal.

CAUSES OF INSOMNIA

The practice of Yang style Taijiquan was a major factor in treating insomnia in these cases. Unfortunately, prior to the start of each case the author did not have access to medical instruments to record the changes in the participants' medical constituents such as blood characteristics and cerebrospinal fluid. The author hopes that others, especially those in the medical community, who are promoting Taijiquan for the treatment of insomnia will use state-of-the-art medical technology to verify the benefits of Taijiquan practice. Sleep is a physiological necessity to maintain normal biological functions and to recuperate from fatigue. It is controlled by the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the central regulator for biological processes in the human body and is the main controller for higher level biological activity. Neurasthenia is a sickness which disrupts the process of regulating the cerebral cortex. Some of the main reasons for losing control of certain functions within the cerebral cortex are social competition, work-related stress, hope for success, relationships, and various social problems. These psychological problems may lead to emotional distress and tension. Following the socio-economic advancements in society, there has been a gradual decline in physical activity which has led to a gradual increase in the nervous system disorders such as neurasthenia. After western researchers exposed the weaknesses of chemical and physical means of treatment for problems such as insomnia, some private corporations in developed nations established their own "sleeping disorder clinics." These clinics were established to raise the confidence levels of those suffering from insomnia by means of literature and music, nightly activities to reduce the tension of sleep deprivation. These types of psychological methods form the basis for the treatment of neurasthenia in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In other words, treatment must be established based on the patient's consciousness. The human being is a complex organism composed of a mind and a physical body which are mutually connected with a social environment. Whether or not one can be optimistic toward one's social environment is a function of one's morale. This is very important in terms of maintaining one's health and in the treatment of disease. It is of utmost importance to find a method of treatment which can promote an optimistic and stable psychological atmosphere.

TREATMENT OF INSOMNIA

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.

RELIEF FROM SOCIAL STRESS

Modern society with its skyscrapers, automobile exhaust, invisible electric waves, electrical networks, and other unfavorable living environments has disrupted the normal biomagnetic energy field in the human body. This has caused a loss in the regulation of messages sent out from the brain to the cells and blood throughout the human body. This has led to poor blood circulation and disruption of internal secretion and to the disruption of the normal content of peptides found in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (elements of insomnia) of the body. As a result this is one of the reasons why highly-populated areas and economically rich countries have higher occurrences of nervous disorders than other countries. Group practice of Taijiquan in tree-filled parks away from tall buildings and noisy streets will allow the body and mind to return back to nature. The interaction of the group will create a so-called qi field that will aid in the regulation of the body's magnetic field. Magnetism will benefit the function of the nervous system and treat nervous disorders by acting directly on the internal structure of the muscle groups and nerves to bring about an increase in activity, thus increasing muscular nourishment and decreasing acidity. Magnetism will also act on the sympathetic nervous system to relieve tension and stress in the mind. Taijiquan practice should be performed before dawn and at dusk to develop the good habit of early to sleep and early to rise. In this way Taijiquan practice will regulate the body's natural biological clock. The vast majority of nervous disorders occur due to the overuse of the brain which leads to a lowering of the cerebrum's blood consistency and to an oxygen deprived condition. The practice of Taijiquan can increase the circulation of blood flow through the capillary system by more than ten times the usual rate. This will increase the supply of oxygen to the brain as well as improve the blood consistency in the brain cells. In this way, the brain will obtain rest, protection, and renewal for creating the best condition for the treatment of nervous disorders.

CONCLUSION

In recent times there has been a gradual increase in health disorders and in medical expenses as well as a gradual decrease in health standards around the world, especially in developed nations. Rather than trying to find a method to change the way of living for the world's people, the community must focus on finding a way to treat these illnesses in a more gentle and effective way. Taijiquan has had remarkable effects on the treatment of diseases arising from psychological factors. However, without the guidance of a qualified instructor it will be difficult to master the true essence of Taijiquan. In fact, even in the beginning stages of learning with a qualified instructor there will be many difficulties. Learning will gradually progress from the shallow to the profound. However, as long as one advances, the inevitable rewards of Taijiquan will be achieved. This can be said of all things that are valuable. If something is easy to obtain, then it is not considered very valuable. However, the harder it is to obtain, the more valuable it becomes. Yellow gold is difficult to find so it is very precious but yellow dirt is easy to come by so it is not considered precious. Only because of the highly profound nature of Taijiquan can it be considered one of China's national treasures. Due to the profound theory and refined movements of Taijiquan, practice will stimulate and regulate the functions of the nervous system. This will allow a return to normal physiological order between the cerebral cortex and the various biological systems within the body. The body will then increase its ability to ward off disease as well as to cure it from various disorders. The international neurological sciences have labeled the last ten years of the twentieth century as the "ten years of the brain." How to protect the health of the brain is one of the most important questions asked in neurological research. It is hoped that the Taijiquan community will work hard to contribute to everyone's understanding of how this ancient treasure can improve the health of the brain and nervous system.


Back to Home Page