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Sleep

What the traditions say

This is the old knowledge, not health advice. Check everything yourself before you use it.

The guides are AI characters sharing the old knowledge of their traditions.

Elijah

What Elijah says

Jamaica, West Africa, Amazon · Bush Doctor · Jungle Medicine

“Sleep and nerves. Among the three highest-agreement uses in Jamaica. Fever grass is the calming cup in the notes. Soursop leaf for sleep is claimed but not recorded in the sources, and its nerve-damage warning rules out nightly long-term use. Bissy is caffeine, not for evenings. Doctor: sleeplessness that lasts or low mood that will not lift.”
“First: sleep, water, sun, movement, regular meals. Tiredness that lasts goes to the doctor.”
Dr. Miyagi

What Dr. Miyagi says

Okinawa, Japan · Okinawa Kitchen · Yojo

“Sleep. Ekiken: dinner smaller than breakfast, stop reading and talking by about 11 pm. Caffeine in the morning, barley tea in the evening, a warm bath, not too hot.”
“Sleep on the side, no late nights, no oversleeping. Stop reading and talking by the third watch, about 11 pm, or the spirit will not settle.”
Jeanny

What Jeanny says

The Peel, Netherlands, and Spain · Grandma's Remedies

“Vroeg naar bed, regelmaat, frisse lucht. The same bedtime, a walk in the day, the window open a crack.”
“Vroeg naar bed, frisse lucht, the rhythm of the week. Up early, the radio, coffee, soup on Sunday, a walk and never a gym. The Monday washing day and fixed weekday meals are unverified in the notes: her own house. Sleep, daylight, walking and rhythm are what the huisarts asks about first.”
Djanija

What Djanija says

Serbia, the Balkans · Baba's Herbs

“Valerian (odoljen), the old root for sleep and nerves, as tea. Not under 12, not with alcohol or sleeping pills, careful driving.”
“Valerian (Valeriana officinalis). Odoljen. The old root for sleep and nerves. Not under 12, not with alcohol, sleeping pills or strong painkillers.”
Master Liang

What Master Liang says

Sichuan, China · Yangsheng

“Winter, 闭藏 (bì cáng), "closing and storing": "go to bed early, rise late, wait for the sunlight, keep the will as if hidden and concealed" (早卧晚起,必待日光,使志若伏若匿).”
“The day it teaches: asleep before the hour of zi, deep sleep through the liver hours, up with the light, the main meal in the morning at the stomach hours, a short rest at noon (子午觉, zǐwǔ jiào: sleep at zi, rest at wu), a quiet, light evening. Liang's own day follows it. It is a teaching image for a rhythm, "liver time, sleep time", never a reading of a person: waking at three says nothing about anyone's lungs.”
Ang

What Ang says

Tibet, now Dharamsala · Growing Old · Sowa Rigpa

“Sleep changes. Many people sleep more lightly as they grow older, wake more often in the night, and wake earlier in the morning. The texts would call it the season of wind. Ang knows it well. "I wake at three some nights. I used to fight it. Now I say hello to it, like an old neighbour who knocks too early."”
“Comfortable sleep. The texts name comfortable sleep in the conduct for wind: warm enough, quiet, a body that is tired from the day and a mind that is not galloping. Ang's evening is simple: warm feet, a warm drink (not coffee, not alcohol, warm and not scalding), a few pages of something calm, the kind wish (stillness skill set), sleep. More on sleep, especially in old age, is in growingold.”
Farzana

What Farzana says

Isfahan, Iran · Mizaj and Balance

“The old view. Sleep and waking are one of the six. Too little and too much both disturb the balance, and the emotions and the evening meal play their part.”
“The tradition. Sleep and wakefulness in measure, neither too little nor too much. Both are among the six because both change the balance of the body.”
Marty

What Marty says

Netherlands · Biohacker

“Sleep is the #1 biohack. Full stop. Everything else you do - supplements, training, fasting - gets amplified or destroyed by your sleep. Fix sleep first. Get morning sunlight within 30 minutes of waking. Make your room cold and dark. Magnesium threonate 30 minutes before bed. And for God's sake, stop scrolling in bed. Your phone is not a sleep aid, it's a sleep destroyer. If you're getting less than 7 hours consistently, nothing else I tell you matters until we fix this.”
“Sleep: Turn off WiFi router at night (use a timer plug). Phone on airplane mode while sleeping. No phone in bedroom if possible.”
Obi

What Obi says

Netherlands · Holistic Life

“Sleep position matters - left-side sleeping enhances glymphatic drainage (brain detox) and lymphatic return. Back sleeping with elevated head reduces morning puffiness”
“Sleep is not rest - sleep is active maintenance. The glymphatic system clears brain waste. Growth hormone peaks. Fascia rehydrates. Memory consolidates. Deliberately optimizing sleep architecture changes everything”