I Only Sleep 4–5 Hours a Night: What It Means and How to Fix It
Are you wondering, “I only sleep 4–5 hours a night, is that normal?” You're not alone. Many people mistakenly assume this pattern is sustainable, but long-term sleep deprivation can take a toll on physical and mental health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), sleeping fewer than six hours is often a sign of internal disharmony that needs to be corrected.
The Liver and Heart play critical roles in regulating sleep in TCM theory. If the Liver Qi is stagnant, it causes irritability and restless sleep. A deficiency in Heart Blood may prevent the Shen (spirit) from anchoring at night, leading to light, fragmented sleep. This is why individuals often report waking up between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., the time associated with Liver activity in the Chinese body clock.
Common TCM interventions for those who say, “I only sleep 4–5 hours a night,” include herbal formulas such as Gui Pi Tang (to tonify Heart Blood and Spleen Qi) and acupuncture at points like PC6 and SP6 to calm the mind and regulate internal rhythms.
Don’t ignore the body’s signal that something’s off. At Phases Natural Healing, we help restore healthy sleep duration naturally, so you can wake up refreshed and energized.