Step Six: How Sleep Helps You Detox

In this fast-paced world we live in, it’s easy to bypass high-quality sleep. We often exchange sleeping time in order to catch up on work or to just mindlessly watch hours of TV to de-stress. There’s nothing that can replace a good, restful sleep!

This is the sixth post in a 20-part series about how to detox your body, life and spirit. Make sure to check out the first post in the series, which lists all 20 steps of the detox program. You can also subscribe to be notified of future posts in this detox series, and sign up to receive my free 67-page detox e-book.

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THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP

Sleep is the time your body detoxes and recovers. When you skip or skimp, you not only accumulate toxins and stagnation, but you start to create a deficit that eventually needs to be repaid. And that might come in many forms and create many diseases.

New research and finding states that the brain requires sleep to detox. The article indicates there is new system findings that allow the brain to remove toxins and build during restful sleep. 

“This study shows that the brain has different functional states when asleep and when awake. In fact, the restorative nature of sleep appears to be the result of the active clearance of the by-products of neural activity that accumulate during wakefulness.” (Source)

SLEEP IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver meridian (which is considered one of the main organs of detoxification) becomes most active in its processes of moving bile, fat, and hormones from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. It is therefore recommended for people to be in a deep sleep state during this period of time.

Your liver is the home of your blood and it is related to the more fiery emotions, according to TCM. A happy liver means happy demeanor. If you’re waking up between 1 and 3 a.m, it may benefit you to look into unaddressed anger, anxiety, or frustration. Because, of course, you want to sleep in peace as well as detox the liver!

If you enjoyed this article, make sure to subscribe to be notified of future posts, check out the first post in the series to read the full list of 20 Ways to Detox, and download the free 67-page e-book to learn the entire program in full!

Dr. S, ND