Sleep is essential to survival as is breathing, drinking and eating. During sleep, the body regenerates its functions, the brain resets and clears the subconscious while new neural pathways are created, the immune system boosts its anti-inflammatory activity and fights off pathogens. Sleep is one of the most important repair strategies of the body. So what happens when our sleep is not optimal? We wake up feeling fatigued, we need stimulants to get through the day, we lack motivation, our memory and concentration are poor, we are in a bad mood, we feel low or snappy… by the end of the day we are not tired, but exhausted and more likely to experience what is ‘toxic sleep’, that dull, lethargic, poor-quality state crowded with anxiety dreams. In the long run, our nervous system is burnt out and we lose the ability to self-regulate. This state increases the risk of developing chronic conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression, obesity, diabetes.
It is not just a matter of how many hours we sleep, but especially what quality our sleep is: can our brain cycle through the different stages of sleep during the night? The brain works at different frequencies: gamma, beta, alpha, theta and delta. Theta and delta waves are linked to REM and non-REM sleep, respectively. Theta waves are higher frequency than delta waves and are involved with dream activity. At this stage, brain activity is closer to that seen in a wakeful state, this is where new neural pathways are formed, the brain re-organises itself and clears the subconscious, dumping all thoughts and worries, so that we are ready to start the new day with a clear canvas. During this phase, the amygdala is particularly active for the processing of all the emotions we lived throughout the day that need to be organised and stored. Dreams can also help us understand deep-seated emotions, worries and fears by bringing them to our conscious mind, so that we can see them, remember them and process their meaning. The deeper sleep rhythm is linked to delta waves, slower frequencies that take us into the non-REM phase of sleep. Here our breathing and heartrate slow down, muscles relax and the body is allowed to regenerate, energy stores are replenished, the brain slows its activity and allows events to ‘sink in’. This is why this phase is important for consolidating memories and learning.
How can we optimise sleep then? Colourpuncture is a non-invasive holistic therapy that can be used effectively to help the body re-establish healthy sleeping patterns. With the use of coloured light, brain frequencies and the Esogetic wildcrafted herbal oil, applied onto specific points of the skin, this powerful technique supports the capacity to fall asleep, stay asleep and promotes dream activity. A particular focus is given to the endocrine triad of hypothalamus, pituitary gland and pineal gland. These parts of the brain are involved in controlling the sleep-wake cycle in accordance to light and darkness (the so-called circadian rhythms). After a number of treatments, people report being able to fall asleep more easily, stay asleep and wake up refreshed. As a consequence, concentration, memory and mood are improved and they are able to cope better with their daily lives.
However, this is only one side of the coin. With colourpuncture, we can go a step further and use sleep and dreams as healing. By promoting dream activity and working on those parts of the brain that hold memories of trauma, colourpuncture can release blockages and tap into the deep-seated causes of why we might struggle sleeping. Sleeping puts us in touch with our subconscious and if we are not ready to do that, the sleep pattern can become disturbed. What is that we are trying to avoid? Colourpuncture shines light in our darkest places and brings emotions and memories to the surface, so that we can see them, recognise them and let them go.
Get in touch if you would like to start your healing journey now!
