If  you are like me, sleep has been a little more difficult to come by lately. In fact, I recently read about a new word related to sleep issues that many of us are having these days: coronasomnia. I am sure you know the normal advice to help with sleeping better: cut back on caffeine, have a bedtime routine, or use supplements like melatonin or magnesium among other things, but there are also some Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) techniques that can help. EEM combines aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine with other natural modalities to balance the energies of the body so that you can achieve wellness and health.

  Hooking Up some of the various acupressure points in the body can balance many of the energy systems in our body, therefore helping us meet the sandman earlier than later. One way to do this is to place one middle finger in your belly button and the other one on your forehead between your eyes. Push in, pull up, and breathe a few times. Another type of ‘hook-up’ involves placing a flat hand on your forehead and the other flat hand on or a little above your bellybutton. Connecting these two areas settles the adrenals down and calms you. One more way to ‘hook-up’ your energies for a better night’s sleep is to make a three-finger-cluster with your thumb, second, and third fingers together and place it on the indentation at the bottom of the front of your neck (right above your collarbone). Place your other hand flat on your belly.  Use all of these techniques, or whichever ones feel right to you.

 Clearing stagnate energy from our face can also help us to not hit the snooze button so many times in the morning. Start at the bridge of your nose and rub out to your cheekbones and then to your ears in small circular motions. I also like to rub over and behind my ears. With those same small circular motions, move across your forehead and out to your temples, as well as along the hairline to break up any other tension left from the day.

Taking Down the Flame is another EEM technique that can help us catch a good night’s sleep. Take a deep breath in and out with your hands on your thighs. On the next inhale, raise your hands on either side of your body and connect them above your head so that your fingers and thumbs meet.   Bring them down to your head, touching your thumbs to the top of your head, and exhale. Inhale and bring your thumbs to the middle of your forehead, and exhale. Inhale and bring your thumbs to your heart, and exhale. Inhale and bring your thumbs to your naval, and exhale. On the next inhale, flatten your hands on your thighs and move them down your legs, and off of your toes. Then trace your hands up the inside of your legs, finishing in the same spot you started.

Doing the Daily Energy Routine (DER), as well as keeping your energies balanced with other exercises can help us with a better night’s sleep and also help our overall wellness. (Check out the videos in ‘Exercises to Try).

(Originally published in Front Porch Magazine, May 2021)