Insomnia help??

[Roy Collins]

From a macrobiotic standpoint using supplements and other isolates from the whole on a regular basis is not wise. Nutrients work best in groups, as they occur naturally in whole foods. Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a natural compound that is found in most macrobiotic foods such as grains, beans, green vegetables, whole wheat, nuts, and fish. So why not just eat these foods, otherwise you are playing juggling game with an excessive amount of the isolated compound. But during transition to macro sometimes supplementaion is required for chronic problems until macro foods begin to work. Each case has to be weighed individually. Specific herbs may work well in some instances as well. In my opinion all foods are herbs but supplements are not herbs or foods but rather isolated compounds -- more like raw chemicals.

I hope this helps.

In peace, Roy

[Mara]

Hi Roy,
I have a question about the type of physical
exercise you would recommend for a weak kidney
condition, which I'm convinced this inspmnia is...In chinese
medicine, I've learned just recently the kidneys govern the wrists and ankles if I am correct, and I had a couple of bad sprains to my right ankle in the fall just when this was getting worse. On top
of that I have carpal tunnel symptoms in my right wrist. And, according the five transformation and birth cycle theory, since I was born in late september, my weaker organs would be my kidneys and bladder. So everything is making sense and I have been doing Qi Gong exercises regularly, and experiencing very interesting heat and pins and needles regularly while doing it and afterward, especially in my lower back kidney area.
Sleeping, I think is improving in general and I have a positive feeling about the direction I'm going but it is erratic and slow going improvement so far. In lots of mainstream literature about insomnia daily strenuous physical activity is recommended... however I have just read on a macro website that this sort of things isn't recommended for the transition into macrobiotic eating. Also I know that overwork and over-exertion weaken the kidneys. I enjoy running but am still chronically tired and wonder if I might be better off just walking. So I was just curious if you had an opinion.
Also am wondering if in your opinion a small thing, like not eating oatmeal (processed) and raisins(simple sugar), or not eating sunflower seeds(oil/protein) could improve a condition. Or are these things in moderation unlikely to affect anything? Sometimes my general state of health seems to change very little from tired due to trouble maintaining sleep that I can't tell what affect if any that food is having on me. Overall I am eating a very balanced and much more informed macro diet thanks to your advice and lots of interesting reading. My second question is, just how restricted do you think it should be so long as I am still suffering insomnia?

[Roy Collins]

Hi Mara. The best form of physical exercise for the kidney (and sex organs) is walking. Begin walking program first for 1/2 hour daily then progress to 45 minutes. Later try to make it 1 hour. You need to do this after dinner fro best result because more yin is dominant at night (darkness/cold) which forces your body to become yang. Walking makes yang too.

Kidney and bladder meridian goes down legs to feet and as you correctly said bypass the ankle area. The wrist is not kidney/bladder related but if you let your arms drop to the sides then look down you draw an imaginary line to connect them you will see that that line crosses in front of the bladder. Thus this ZONE (not meridian) relates to the bladder/wrist. You can do this with other body parts as well, like lungs/biceps, elbows/intestines, etc. Maybe this is the relation you are talking about.

Also good exercise for kidney/bladder MERIDIAN strengthening is to sit on the floor with legs straight out and try to touch your feet with your hands. Hold his position to the count of ten and try to keep body and muscles relaxed while breathing evenly. Do this both when you awake in the am and prior to sleep.

Qigong is good, especially bending form and so is Do-In exercise, where you stimulate back region with vigorous pounding. This can be done in the am as well. Bo has a list of Do-In books on the Main Forum page.

The oatmeal/raisin and other foods you mention is fine. Barley cereal from whole barley however would be better of kidneyy/bladder. Eat AFTER you exercise.

I don't know about the other macro websites but like any website you know that anyone can say they are something they are not. Sometimes you get too much conflicting information just from one website and if you jump from one to the other, it is like going to different health practitioners who each tell you something different. Try to stick with one plan, one source for now. Then if you are not satisfied try another website/practitioner.

I tend to think that it is better to stay with a moderate macrobiotic plan for now while you slowly make transition and eliminate old food/beverage choices and add new. NEVER make change fast -- your body will not like this and will react unpleasantly. If too strict your menstrual cycle will get screwed up and hormones as well. A big discharge may came and you can not handle this. Better to not take the gamble but go with moderate view and change slowly, like nature. You will be unhappy if too strict. Maybe get fanatical like other strict macrobiotics if you get too obsessed (there are many macros out there like this). Just give everything a little more time and allow foods to work on you.

I'm glad to know that some progress is being made. Keep it up girl...

In peace, Roy

[Mara]

I am confused; you said to walk after dinner and then you
said to eat after I exercise...
P.S. the website I mentioned was Kaare Bursell's Alchemycal Pages, what do you think? Besides that I read the standard macrobiotic literature (...and the daily newspaper, and pulp science fiction from the free box, and my microbiology text) And I just joined your online class, which looks like it will be really interesting.

Thanks again, Roy.
Mara

[Roy Collins]

Hi Mara. Sorry I was not more clear for you. Yes do the WALKING in the PM AFTER you eat.

Do the EXERCISES in the AM before you eat, then eat (oatmeal/raisin or barley, etc). You can also do these exercises in the evening after you eat before retiring (maybe after your walk.)

Do-In in the am upon rising if you want.

I won't comment on Karre's macrobiotic practice or criticize other so-called macrobiotic websites. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Hopefully they will refrain from criticizing our site as well, and myself, but that remains to be seen.

It is best to weigh out all of your options and listen carefully to what they are saying. Maybe some have an ulterior motive and use macrobiotics as a means to attract "customers." Remember I am not mentioning names. Some are out for the money, some are legitimate, some are selling a little more than macro, like religion, herbs, crystals, etc. Who knows. Time will tell.

I', glad you joined the class. The last couple of messages I posted there bounced back so I think there are still problems with the list program. Hopefully we can resume the lessons soon.

In peace, Roy

[Mara]

Ok, one more (actually two) questions.
Is there any special way to make barley cereal besides
pot-boiling, standard proportions? I don't have a pressure
cooker right now and can't really afford one.
And, bladderwrack: how should I prepare it? I have tried
to cook it with oats, I like seaweed in my oats. But the
bladderwrack that I found, it came in little flakes, and when
I cooked it in the oats it tasted like I was eating lots of little
shells. Maybe the problem was not soaking it first.
Thank you.
Mara

[Roy Collins]

Hi Mara. Yes, it is a good idea to soak hulled barley over night in water to cover. Then throw off water. Place the soaked barley in a pot with about 4-5 times the amount with water and bring to a boil. When it boils lower flame and cover. Let cook about 1/2 hour or so until it is the consistency of gruel. You can add a little sea salt while cooking or a little gomassio on top of the gruel (in your bowl).

The bladerwrack seaweed was probably not cleaned too well by the company you bought it from. Most people take the supplement form and swallow the capsule but you can also make tea with the bladderwrack and strain out whatever seems to be offensive. You might want to add a litttle mint or other local tea to the mix to give it a better flavor.

Bladderwrack is very tough and hard to chew. It is better to have it ground into flakes or powder. Mabe add it to a glass of carrot juice. I hope this helps.

In peace, Roy

[Jeannette]

Hi Mara,

I read your post and I know what you are going through because I went through three very long and brutal months of insomnia. I tried everything, supplements (this was before turning macro), pills, herbal, wine, you name it. I was going crazy. I realized that it was my current state of mental health that was driving me crazy and causing me to stay awake at night. How is your job? Are you happy in your life? Are you too stressed? Do you meditate/pray? I recommend examining all areas of your life. I was very unhappy at work, and as soon as the school year was over (I was a teacher), I was able to fall asleep like a baby. If work is making your miserable, I found take the steps to find a new job, or something that will allow you to sleep at night. When it comes down to it, nothing matter if you can't sleep! Try to meditate. It will calm your nerves and quiet your mind. Do not try to get into bed early just because the clock says it is time to do so. Stay up until you are tired, read a book, do something creative. Stay away from TV before bed. Stay away from sleeping pills. I made that mistake. I hope this help a little bit. Please email me if you have any questions. I know the pain you are going through!

[Mara]

Hi Jeanette,

Thank you for your concern & advice. To tell you the truth, this was posted almost 3 years ago (11-08-2001, 02:57 PM)... I've been through a LOT of hard work to heal myself since then, and am happy to say I no longer suffer from insomnia or chronic fatigue syndrome, which was really the root of my problems.

Glad you are feeling better, too!

Have a great day,

Mara

Mara,
so what exactly did you do to cure your insomnia ? Appreciate any info that you can give.. I am too sufferring from insomnia for over 10 years and also have CFS as well.

[Mara]

It was a long battle, and I can't say exactly what did it. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. I really still don't understand what happened to me and how I cured it. When I figure it out, I'll try and write something about it.

I would say, don't rule anything out, but trust your intuition. Sometimes extreme situations call for extreme solutions - sometimes the path of moderation can try your patience so much that the stress & frustration itself of expecting big results from subtle influences can cause more illness, especially where an insomnia and fatigue cycle is concerned. I mean, sometimes you really just need a kick in the butt by something stronger than brown rice to get yourself out of a serious rutt.

In other words, sometimes, you just need benadryl and caffeine to set yourself straight. And don't be afraid of raw food, if the sleep disorder is slowing down the digestion (i.e. constipation), making fatigue even worse.

Feel free to email me if you want to talk. Everyone's situation is different - my advice may pertain only to myself, I don't know. I'm not an expert, of course. Take my advice with your own sense of what is right or wrong.