Traditional Chinese Medicine explains why people love to sleep on their stomachs

Everyone knows that Chinese medicine in our country is very profound. Many diseases that cannot be cured by Western medicine can be cured by Chinese medicine. For many people, sleep is very important. Some people often feel dizzy and have back pain when they wake up. In fact, the main reason is probably a bad sleeping posture. Chinese medicine often says that if the blood circulation is smooth, the pain will occur. A good sleeping posture can make the blood circulation throughout the body smooth.

Traditional Chinese medicine has the saying that "pain occurs when there is obstruction". A good sleeping posture ensures that the airways throughout the body are unobstructed and the blood vessels flow smoothly. It can regulate qi and nourish the mind, nourish the blood vessels, eliminate fatigue, and nourish the spirit. The best sleeping position is semi-side sleeping, which can ensure the whole body relaxation and smooth blood circulation. But no matter what sleeping position you choose, just be comfortable and relaxed.

1. If you like to sleep on your back…

People who adopt this sleeping position are usually very tired or drunk, and they quickly fall into a deep sleep while lying on their back. At this time, the sleeper's hands will unconsciously place on the chest.

【Interpretation of Traditional Chinese Medicine】

During sleep, the opening parts of the face are mostly facing upwards, while the qi and body fluids move downwards. For example: when you are in deep sleep, with your face facing upwards, the root of your tongue may drop or saliva may flow into your trachea, easily causing snoring or choking, or even leading to sudden death due to qi stagnation. This is very detrimental to the circulation of qi and blood in the lungs, thus affecting the function of the lungs. Therefore, you should turn over and change your sleeping position when you sleep.

2. If you like to sleep on your stomach…

Sleeping on your stomach is like sleeping on a baby, and people who sleep like this are more likely to drool. Also, if your chest is pressed flat on the bed, chest tightness may occur.

【Interpretation of Traditional Chinese Medicine】

The biggest disadvantage of sleeping on your stomach is that it puts pressure on your heart. If the time is too long, or if the chest is under excessive pressure due to obesity or other reasons, it may affect the circulation of Qi and blood throughout the body, causing heart discomfort, difficulty breathing, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine says that heart failure is caused by insufficient qi, so the first thing you should do during sleep is to ensure you have a good breathing condition. If you feel stuffy when sleeping on your stomach, you can use a high pillow to ensure smooth blood flow to your heart.

3. If you like to sleep curled up...

Sleeping curled up is not a good posture. Not only will it make you look like a shrimp, but it will also hurt your back and neck.

【Interpretation of Traditional Chinese Medicine】

According to medical surveys, one in five Chinese people has suffered from back pain and neck pain in the past six months. Poor sleeping posture is the main cause of back or neck pain. A person feels most comfortable when the back is straight. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that poor blood circulation will lead to deficiency symptoms. Therefore, whether you are sitting, standing, or even lying down, you should adjust your posture to the most comfortable level and avoid always bending your waist. For a sleep of up to 7 or 8 hours, you should also stretch your body.

4. If you like to sleep with your arms around your neck…

This is a very unconscious sleeping position. You may be thinking about something with your arms as a pillow before going to bed, but you fall asleep without realizing it. When I woke up, I felt that my arms were no longer my own arms. From my shoulders to my fingers, I was out of control.

Traditional Chinese Medicine to Protect Flowers: Falling asleep with your arms as a pillow and sleeping for hours without moving can directly cause compressive damage to the radial nerve in the upper arm, leading to paralysis of the forearm, wrist, and fingers. This is exactly the principle of traditional Chinese medicine: "If the circulation is unobstructed, there will be no pain; if the circulation is blocked, there will be pain." During sleep, our Qi, blood and breathing gradually enter a stable and regular state. During deep sleep, if there is Qi and blood blockage in the limbs, we are unaware and unable to regulate it, and we quickly enter a paralysis period. So don't make a habit of resting your arms behind your head.

5. If you prefer to sleep completely sideways…

Sleeping completely on your side will press down half of your body. If you also press down one side of your arms and legs, you may not feel it at first, but when it becomes a habitual sleeping position, blood stasis will occur.

【Interpretation of Traditional Chinese Medicine】

Relevant experts investigated 2,000 patients with cerebral infarction and found that more than 95% of the patients had the habit of sleeping completely on their side with half of their body pressed down. This sleeping position aggravates blood flow disorders on the basis of existing arteriosclerosis, especially slowing down blood flow in the neck, which is prone to gradually accumulate at the damaged part of the arterial intima and form blood clots. To eliminate this hidden danger, it is more appropriate to lie on your back or half-ly on your side from time to time.

Recommended golden sleeping position "half side lying"

"Qian Jin Yao Fang Dao Lin Yang Xing" says: "Lying on your side with your knees bent can increase your energy and strength, and is better than lying upright." It advocates lying on your side. But the “side-lying” actually refers to “half-side-lying”, which ensures relaxation of all parts of the body, smooth flow of Qi and blood, and unobstructed access to internal organs.

From a physiological point of view, sleeping on the right side is more scientific. When lying on the right side, the amount of air inhaled by the right lung accounts for 59% of the whole lung, and the amount of blood circulating in the right lung accounts for 68% of the whole lung (due to the effect of gravity, the pulmonary blood flow in the lower lung must be greater). When lying on the left side, the above two indicators of the left lung are 38% and 57% respectively. Compared with the percentage of air inhalation and the percentage of blood flow, when lying on the right side (difference of 9%), the difference is larger when lying on the left side (difference of 19%). The oxygen needed by the human body is transported by the blood after gas exchange. Therefore, lying on the right side is better than lying on the left side. In addition, the heart is located between the left and right lungs in the chest cavity, but leaning to the left. When lying on the left side, the heart is easily squeezed, which can easily increase the burden on the heart. It is reasonable for a normal person to lie on the right side. But when sleeping on your side, be careful not to use a pillow that is too low, otherwise it will cause discomfort in your neck.

Most people like to sleep on their backs, which is like a big letter "L". This posture is good for blood circulation and is also in line with sleep hygiene. But be careful not to put your hands on your chest when lying on your back, otherwise you may easily have nightmares.

In fact, it is impossible for people to stay in one posture during the whole night of sleep. At a certain time, they will turn over or change the position of their limbs to achieve a comfortable position. During the sleep process, as long as people can fall asleep quickly and do not feel uncomfortable, it is enough to master a lying position and there is no need to be too strict.

Of course, for a healthy person, there is no need to be overly concerned about his sleeping posture, because overnight, people often cannot maintain a fixed posture until dawn. Most people are constantly changing their sleeping postures, which is more conducive to relieving fatigue.