The use today of traditional Chinese medicine combines many thousands of years of Chinese medical practice that includes using Chinese medicine to cure insomnia naturally. The term 'traditional Chinese medicine' is a quite new term that was first used by the People's Republic of China in the 1950s at a time when that country was attempting to create a substantial export trade for its time honored medical practices and medicines.

Nowadays, traditional Chinese medicine does not simply include medicinal products, but also covers such things as herbal preparations and several practices including massage and acupuncture. The basis of Chinese medicine is that the body works as the result of various interrelated processes which are constantly interaction with the environment around us. While these processes stay in balance you are healthy but, if these processes are not running alongside one another smoothly, then your health will suffer.

There are a variety of philosophies which govern Chinese medicine including things like the theory of Yin-Yang which looks at the role of the five elements (earth, water, fire, wood and metal), the flow of energy through the meridians of the body and the relationships between the organs of the body which are outlined in the theory of Zang-Fu.

For a long time there has been considerable conflict between those who follow traditional Chinese medical practices and those people who believe in science-based Western medicine. Now however Chinese medicine, along with other forms of Asian and Oriental medicine, is increasingly being accepted in the West and we frequently refer to these practices as alternative medicine.

For many millions of sufferers herbal remedies have long proved to be effective in curing insomnia or in relieving insomnia symptoms and things like lavender, chamomile, passion flower and lemon balm have long been known for their medicinal properties. There can be very few insomniacs who have not had a hot drink of lemon balm with honey at bedtime.

An increasing number of people are also turning to acupuncture or, for those people who do not like the idea of needles, acupressure. Both arts have been in use for many hundreds of years and the principles were born out of the Chinese practice of adjusting the energy within the body by controlling its flow along the meridian lines of the body.

Despite its increasing acceptance there are still many people who are distrustful of Chinese medicine. However anyone who has experienced it in action, particularly those of us who have been fortunate enough to spend time living in the Far East, will certainly attest to its effectiveness.