How The Phases Of The Moon Can Affect Your Circadian Rhythm

Sleep is organized into phases, and rhythms of these phases are essential to energy and life itself. Alteration to these rhythms can have a significant impact on your energy level, and your ability to think clearly and function well within normal daily activities.

From the 1960s through the 1980s, researchers, physicians and scientists were the most concerned with the structure of sleep and the manner in which the cyclical changes occur within that structure. The primary focus was on the REM or Rapid Eye Movement phase of sleep. It was thought at the time that the balance or REM to non-REM sleep was the most important cyclical aspect of the sleep structure.

Today's research scientists and physicians understand that there is more to refreshing and healthy sleep patterns than just the REM to non-REM balance. They understand that there are several phases of sleep that are all important. Increasingly, their focus is on the balancing of all cyclical rhythms to achieve the best quality of sleep possible.

The rhythms of sleep fall into six main areas: the timed rhythm, circadian rhythm, lunar rhythm, the seasonal rhythm, REM and non-REM sleep. Within the timed rhythm, there are several delineations that are important in sleep research. These are the weekly, 24-hour, four-hour, and 90-minute rhythms.

Increasingly, researchers have found there is a significant connection between the lunar rhythm and the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is also known as the biological clock. It is the rhythm that connects the human body to the larger world. It is the connection between all human activities, including the conscious, subconscious, and those that are purely biological.

The circadian rhythm also refers to the natural period during which our bodies require sleep. Human beings are naturally active in the day and slumber at night. This rhythm has been found to work best for the majority of people and is optimized through the harmonious congruence with the other natural rhythms of the world and universe.

This means that the natural cycles of the moon and sun can have a significant influence on the natural sleep cycle of humans. These heavenly bodies affect the planet and everything on it. Every species on Earth has a connection to the natural rhythms of the cosmos, including humans.

When the natural connection between our inner cycles and the cycles of the world that surround us are out of phase, we suffer the consequences. There's a reason that people do not do well working swing shifts. Those who work night shifts struggle to function during the day. There is even a sleep disorder that's associated with having worked night shifts for many years.

The circadian rhythm is intimately tied to the darkness moving into daylight which occurs with each sunrise. Light plays a strong role in the transition between sleep and waking. The heat that is produced by the sun also influences our body temperature which is also a significant part of the change from sleep to wakefulness. Our body temperature drops in the evening naturally and also naturally rises in the morning before we wake.

The lunar rhythm and the phases of the moon can affect sleep and activity patterns. There is evidence in the animal kingdom that nocturnal activity levels increase during the phases of the moon that produce more light. There is also evidence that supports that the phases of the moon have an effect on the dreams and sleep patterns of humans.

The combination of the lunar rhythm and the circadian rhythm on the body's sleep is evident if you keep track of your own patterns. Some people who keep dream diaries see an increase in disturbing dreams during certain phases of the moon. You may also find that you don't sleep as soundly or have difficulty falling asleep during or near a full moon.

Many people find that they need to employ sleep aids during certain phases of the lunar cycle. More natural sleep aids are better for you in general. You may need to look for methods that will allow you to increase your sense of relaxation and help you fall asleep. Others may find that they need something that will help them sustain good deep sleep for periods of time during certain phases of the lunar cycle.

Sleep quality will never be the same every night. There are too many influences on the quality of sleep we achieve. Our goal should always be to create the best possible situation in which good sleep can be achieved and maintained.

Even doctors recommend (http://www.soundmachinesdirect.com/) white noise machines such as the Marpac Marsona 1288A Sound Conditioner for patients who are sufferers of tinnitus or have difficulty sleeping. These patients can be shift workers who have to sleep during the day, new parents contending with a crying baby, or anyone who is easily distracted by outside noise or has difficulty sleeping for any reason.

by Mike Zimmerman
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