Highly intuitive acupuncturist and integrated facialist Annee de Mamiel sits very firmly on the speed dial of those in-the-know. Whether frantic, frazzled, worried, or simply in need of seriously glowy skin, her clients heap praise on her holistic approach which harnesses sound therapy, aromatherapy, craniosacral work and her superlative skincare formulations to enhance both skin and sense of wellbeing.
When I enquire about the most common issues that her clients bring to the treatment room de Mamiel explains that while sleep isn’t always the headline concern, it is, she says, “almost always there in the background — from staying asleep to not feeling rested after a long sleep. Sleep tends to be the quiet thread running through it all. And when rest is out of rhythm, everything else — skin, mood, energy — falls out of balance too.”
Annee de Mamiel
And yet, despite the energy and money that we collectively spend chasing sleep: supplements, sleep apps and elaborate routines, according to Annee, we might all be doing it wrong. “People look for quick fixes,” she explains, “when in truth, a good night’s sleep begins the moment you wake up. The harder we try to force rest, the more alert the body becomes.”
Research, she adds, “shows sleep is in fact governed by delicate rhythms of light, temperature, hormones and nervous-system tone, beginning with daylight in the morning, regular meals, and small evening rituals that remind the body it’s safe to let go.”
And in terms of what’s really getting in the way? “The most common disruptor is chronic stress, an out-of-sync circadian rhythm, the sense of being constantly ‘on,’ and disconnected from natural light-dark and rest-activity cycles,” she explains “Digital stimulation, irregular schedules and artificial light all play a part in keeping cortisol levels high, while sleep is restless and fragmented.” No surprises there…
“In today’s world,” she says, “the single greatest gift for sleep may be re-establishing rhythm. ” Here are her top tips for shaking off that dreaded wired-but-tired feeling, and staying asleep long enough for your body and brain to recover.
De Mamiel
1. Lower your core temperature
“As we move into slow-wave sleep, our body temperature naturally falls. Cooling the heart area or the back of the neck encourages vagal tone and helps the brain’s cleansing fluids flow more freely. Place a cool compress over your heart centre, or slip your hands outside the covers — subtle cues that tell the nervous system it’s safe to sink deeper. This is why a warm bath before bed can help. It raises core body temperature, then as you cool down afterwards, the body experiences a sharp drop in temperature, one of the strongest natural triggers for melatonin release and slow-wave sleep onset. Supercharge your tub with my de Mamiel Anchor Soak, (£60, de mamiel.com). Rich in magnesium salts, its clinical aromatherapy blend of Neroli, Roman Chamomile, Lavender and Frankincense helps to lower cortisol.”
“The body loves predictability. Set a pre-sleep ritual that repeats nightly: a specific scent, stretch, or song. Repetition builds a somatic signal that tells your nervous system, “We’re safe; it’s time to let go.”
3. Sleep on your side — preferably the left
“MRI studies show that side-lying positions enhance the brain’s waste-clearance compared with lying on the back. Sleeping on the left also aids lymphatic drainage from the liver, allowing body and brain to detoxify in tandem.”
“The brain’s drainage channels trace down through the neck. A pillow that cradles without compressing allows cerebrospinal and lymphatic fluid to flow freely — a small adjustment with profound neurological benefit.”
5. Always switch off the lights
“Melatonin not only invites sleep, it also opens the microscopic gates that flush the brain. Even a trace of blue light can suppress its release. Use low amber bulbs after sunset, and on wakeful nights, turn your face away from the moon or streetlight. It’s a tiny shift that helps melatonin flow unbroken.”
“A warm evening meal rich in tryptophan [an amino acid found in a variety of protein-rich foods] and complex carbohydrates supports serotonin, which later converts to melatonin. But eating too late raises blood sugar and body heat — both disrupt deep sleep and slow glymphatic flow. Aim to finish three hours before bed so the liver and brain can rest together.”
7. Swap your bedside clock for a scent
“If you wake in the night, don’t reach for the clock. Instead, reach for scent. Keep a small sleep balm beside the bed — grounding resins like frankincense and benzoin, soft florals of rose and neroli, a trace of vetiver or sandalwood. Inhale slowly and feel the nervous system unwind; scent travels straight to the limbic brain where hormones are regulated.”
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8. Hum or breathe through the left nostril
“In yogic tradition, the left nostril is linked to the cooling, restorative “ida” channel — a reflection of what science now recognises as parasympathetic activation. Gently close your right nostril and breathe slowly through the left for a few minutes; it can lower heart rate, calm the mind, and guide the body toward balance.”
9. Fall back asleep through gratitude
“When the mind loops, gently redirect it: recall three moments that brought ease to your day. Gratitude settles the stress axis, raises serotonin and oxytocin, and helps the glymphatic channels open wider — a quiet act of repair that works while you dream.”
