For more than a decade, a woman struggling with chronic insomnia laced up her running shoes every morning, convinced that jogging would finally bring her the restful sleep she craved. Instead, her condition worsened—her feet burned at night, and sleep became even more elusive. Only after consulting a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, who advised her to swap long-distance running for gentle stretching, tai chi, and yoga, did her sleep gradually improve. Within three months, her nights grew calmer and her energy more stable.
Guo Yucheng, director of the Contemporary Han Yi Yuan TCM Clinic in Taiwan, recounted this case on NTD’s “Health 1+1” program, a sister outlet of The Epoch Times. Many people become fixated on the idea that “exercise equals health.” From jogging to intense workouts that leave them drenched in sweat, they believe the more they train, the better their cardiopulmonary function. However, it is important to recognize that adopting the wrong approach or exercising excessively can cause chronic damage to the body.
Why Does Running Worsen Insomnia?
At first glance, this story seems puzzling. After all, countless studies show that exercise helps regulate sleep. So why did running worsen this woman’s insomnia? TCM explains this through the lens of “yin” and “yang” balance.
