What are the traditional Chinese medicine methods for treating snoring?
Dec 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Guo Xiheng
Introduction
Traditional Chinese medicine treatments for snoring are as follows:
Phlegm-damp constitution: Use dampness-resolving herbs such as lotus leaf steeped in water; for qi deficiency, tonify with herbs like Astragalus (Huangqi) and Red Astragalus (Hongqi).
Yawning: Yawn widely until both ears feel full, then stretch the throat muscles for 3–5 seconds, gradually increasing the duration over time.
Tongue muscle exercise: Place the tip of the tongue in the gap between the lips and gums, and rotate the tongue clockwise and counterclockwise for one full round each.
Snoring is quite common in daily life. Not only does it reduce the individual's sleep quality, but it can also affect other family members. What are the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches for treating snoring?
What Are the Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments for Snoring?
According to TCM, treatment for snoring may include the following methods: For individuals with phlegm-dampness constitution, dampness-resolving herbs such as lotus leaf steeped in water may be used; Qi-tonifying herbs include Astragalus (Huangqi), Red Astragalus (Hongqi), etc. Yawning exercise: Open your mouth as wide as possible until you feel both ears blocked, then stretch the throat muscles for 3–5 seconds, gradually increasing the duration over time. Tongue muscle exercises: Place the tip of your tongue in the gap between your lips and gums, then rotate your tongue clockwise and counterclockwise once each, repeating 6–7 times, for a total of 15–20 repetitions.
Strengthening the masseter muscles through exercise can also help reduce snoring: Place the tip of one index finger on your chin and your wrist on the sternum, then use head movement to open your mouth as wide as possible, feeling the muscles around the mouth fully stretched—repeat no fewer than 100 times. Patients with severe snoring should follow medical advice.
Snoring results from disrupted breathing during sleep and can be classified into central snoring and obstructive snoring. Central causes may include various central nervous system disorders, brain injuries, heart failure, anesthesia, or drug poisoning. Obstructive causes include allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a drooping or relaxed soft palate, an elongated or thick uvula, an enlarged tongue, or posterior displacement of the tongue base. We hope this information helps. Wishing you good health and a happy life!
