Many people experience the same issue: waking up between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. every day and struggling to fall back asleep, staring at the ceiling until dawn. During the day, they lose focus while working at the computer, come home too exhausted to play with their children, and their temper becomes like a firecracker—easily triggered. Why does this happen?

In reality, sleep issues are not solely caused by an unsettled spirit. Many people assume that insomnia is simply due to heavy worries, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) indeed recognizes that the heart governs mental activity—when the spirit is unsettled, sleep cannot be deep. However, the body is a holistic system, much like a water pipe: if any section is blocked, it affects the flow. Similarly, among the organs, discomfort in one area can lead to sleep problems.

Always waking up between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.? This time frame coincides with the liver’s peak activity period. The liver, much like a straightforward person, prefers openness and comfort and cannot stand being suppressed. If you’re under constant work pressure or dealing with too many worries at home, liver qi tends to stagnate, and over time, this can transform into fire. Once liver fire flares up, it disturbs the mind and disrupts sleep, leading to waking up during this time.

Apart from sleep issues, people with this condition may also experience dry mouth, a bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, a quick temper, pain in the chest and ribs, dizziness, and tinnitus. If you look at the tongue, it often appears red with a yellow coating. These are all signs that liver fire is at play.

To address this condition, here are two commonly used herbs: **Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed)** and **Chai Hu (Bupleurum)**. Suan Zao Ren is a common herb for treating sleep disorders—it calms the mind, nourishes the liver, and reduces sweating, helping to stabilize the spirit. Chai Hu, on the other hand, specializes in smoothing liver qi and clearing away stagnant fire. Once the liver fire is cleared, it no longer disturbs the mind, and sleep naturally improves.

Used together, these two herbs work to clear liver fire while stabilizing the mind. You’ll sleep soundly at night and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. The content provided here is for educational purposes only. Since everyone’s constitution is different, it’s essential to tailor treatment to the individual. If you experience any physical discomfort, please seek guidance from a professional healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan!