Welcome to N-O-D’s first blog post! N-O-D brings you sleep tips, ideas and all snooze related news. If you have any ideas that you think we may be interested in or you would like to be featured or contribute to N-O-D, please email us at info@koisilondon.com we would love to hear from you!
The reason today is so apt for the beginning of N-O-D is because we have just experienced our last Super Moon of 2020. So, how does this lunar change have anything to do with sleep?
Although there is no strict scientific evidence to illustrate the connection, we at Koisi are open to more holistic beliefs. Many friends and family we have spoken to this week, in the UK and internationally, have explained their troubled sleep patterns within the last week. We thought we were the only ones experiencing this and blaming possible hormonal imbalances or the change in weather- well now, we believe it was neither.
This week we have seen gradual global changes in lockdown restrictions easing and the birth of a “new normal” appearing. The Super Flower Moon, seen last night, was the last of those that started in February and will not be appearing again until April 2021. This moon was not as bright as the last, however was still a full moon. A full moon happens when the sun, earth and moon are all in alignment, where Earth is in the middle, being illuminated by the Sun (NASA).
The Cajochen study from 2013, is a much referred to study when explaining how the lunar cycle affects sleep activity. 33 healthy volunteers (male and female of various ages) took part in this study. They were non-smokers and did not take illegal drugs or medication. They were in a controlled sleep environment and were required to sleep eight hours a night, with limited alcohol and caffeine consumption during the day. This study was during a 29.5 lunar cycle. The results found illustrated that the full moon did affect the volunteers’ sleep cycle, as it took them on average five minutes longer to fall asleep and they slept on average thirty minutes less. Additionally, they had thirty per cent less time in a deep sleep, reporting poorer sleep and reduced levels of hormone melatonin.
The main contributing factor is said to be the light exposure from the full moon, which can supress melatonin production, therefore disturbing sleep (Dr Alon Avidan, neurology professor and director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Centre).
The theory described by Avidan is not new. Our ancestors controlled their calendars by the sun and the moon. Prior to the invention of electricity, people on average, slept 6.4 hours and suffered less insomnia. For good sleep hygiene, it is encouraged to sleep in dark rooms and avoid any bright lights before bedtime; therefore, it is no wonder astrologists suggest that the full moon’s cosmic night light can cause poor sleep quality. The bright light from the moon can leave us feeling more energetic, hence why our ancestors used to use this light for various night-time activities i.e full moon parties.
It is further suggested that the full moon, can also affect our sleep through its relation to water. The moon is said to control the sea and is responsible for ocean tides. Some suggest, because our bodies are made up of 60% water, the moon could have a direct impact on elements in our bodies, altering both our mood and mental state.
The Roman philosopher Pliny, suggested that the full moon produced more dew, causing more moisture in our brain, leading to ‘LUNAcy’. The full moon is said to affect our mood, causing more anxiety and depression; whether this alternation in behaviour is due to lack of sleep or excess moisture in the brain, is to be determined.
Nonetheless, we have survived our last Super Moon of the year and maybe the tides are finally changing and we are reaching our own enlightenment during what has been a dark period. The Super Flower Moon, fell on the same day as the Buddha Purnima festival, which we believe is no coincidence. It is tradition to wish everyone peace, love, happiness, good health and prosperity during this holiday, which is what we all wish for you all and going forward a more peaceful and restful nights sleep for, at least, the rest of the year.
(BBC News/ NHS / http://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822%2813%2900754-9 / The Independent / The Telegraph / https://www.uclahealth.org/alon-avidan )
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