Snoring

Four Main Syndromes for Snoring

Notice that only one of them specifically mentions the Spleen! That’s because it’s taken as read that the Spleen energy will need treatment.

Also, to start with I’ve listed only four syndromes. These are the worst, but many snorers don’t have them, or have only the first one in such an early stage of development that they would probably dispute it. They just have a weak Spleen causing lax tissues in the throat, and some Phlegm. That’s enough to make many people snore.

• Lung Phlegm with both Lung and Spleen deficiency
• Lung Damp Phlegm
• Lung Dry Phlegm
• Lung Phlegm Heat

Suggestions for snoring people

There are many devices and systems you can buy to help you to stop snoring – some of them are probably promoted by advertisers on this page! – but before you spend your money at least consider what you can do about it yourself.

First, try to establish the cause of your snoring. Chinese medicine, as perhaps you’ve read above, suggests that snoring arises mainly when your Spleen energy can’t cope. 

However, there are other possibilities, including respiratory, hence the importance of the Lung energy in the syndromes listed above.

With both Spleen and Lung involved, several further syndromes enter the picture:

• Phlegm
• Deficiency of Qi, mainly of Lung Qi.
• Kidney deficiency: this arises as your body’s store of endurance and youth declines, either from excess demands on them through acute or chronic illness, overwork, pregnancy, menopause, prolonged Qi Stagnation, overlifting, or ageing. (That’s not a complete list, by any means.) Weak Kidney Qi fails to support and supply the ability to ‘mend’ the tired-out Spleen and anchor errant Yang energy.

So, what to do? Most of the following are not quick fixes, though some do work fast, but they are suggestions for the long-term.

If your Spleen is weak, you should:

• [For instance, I know from experience that within a few minutes of eating some foods, my nose will feel a little blocked. These foods aren’t poisonous! I don’t have an allergic reaction to them. But my nose still feels obstructed after eating them.

• If I go to bed just after eating them I may snore, my wife tells me. I’m lucky in that I’ve worked out which those foods are, for me, though it took years for me to make the connection. So your self-examination may not be easy, but it could be very worthwhile, enhance your relationships, improve your sleep, your energy and even give you some sex-life rather than an ex-wife. Or ex-husband. Worth consideration, wouldn’t you say?]

Medications and Snoring

• medications are included in what you eat or drink. Do you need them all? Sometimes a better diet and more exercise mean you don’t need them! Or could they be taken at different times of day – perhaps earlier? Is it possible that a particular combination of them causes you to snore? By the way, coffee is for many a form of medication. Try avoiding it for a week and see if that makes a difference. For some people, too much tea has the same effect.

Over-eating and Snoring

• over-eating or over-drinking during the evening before sleep can hugely worsen your snoring. This is something you can control. Be very suspicious of snacking! Salty, sweet, spicy, fatty snacks disrupt and weaken your Spleen. 
• [Over-eating can lead to obesity when the wrong foods are over-eaten. Obesity is known to incline people to snore. So, of course, if you are overweight you should try to reduce your weight. However, this is easier said than done, but you could read this.]

Eat for Balance

• consider whether the foods you eat are Yang or Yin in nature. You need a balance, but too much Yang food is heating and dries fluids in your nose and throat, making you open your mouth to breathe, and inclining you to snore. Equally, too much Yin food produces too many fluids through which you gurgle as you breathe – see also under Phlegm and Damp. (What are Yang foods and Yin foods, you ask? Check Nutrition from time to time because from it there will be links to pages on these categories that I’m gradually writing. But briefly, meat and roasted food is Yang: most natural liquids, especially water, and vegetables, are Yin. For some, not enough water allows the throat to dry making you open your mouth and snore. For others drinking too much water soaks you in Yin fluids which are difficult to breathe through. Balance, in everything!) 

Exercise, Rest and Snoring

• start taking more exercise, within your capability. This should be enough to get yourself out of breath for at least 10 minutes daily. Eventually longer. Do it in open, fresh, clean air if you can.
• rest more from intensive intellectual work. This might be work or it might not. Sitting at a computer or on your tablet or phone or even watching TV, could all amount to what the Chinese meant by over-thinking. 

• see an acupuncturist who can help your digestion and Spleen syndromes recover faster – but YOU have to look after how and what you eat. If you don’t,  acupuncture will be less helpful.