1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Deficiency of the heart and spleen
  b. Deficiency of both heart-qi and gallbladder-qi
  c. A breakdown of the normal physiological coordination between the heart and the kidney
  d. Mental disturbance caused by phlegm-fire
  e. Upward attack of excessive fire in the liver and gallbladder
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation

Insomnia is the inability to get "enough" sleep. People who suffer from insomnia do not get enough quality sleep to feel rested the next day. It's one of the most common complaints- an estimated 60 percent people are affected. The causes of insomnia are many and varied. It can be caused by physical or psychological problem. The usual cause of insomnia is tress or worry. Insomnia is more common in female than males. In TCM, it is attributable to the categories of "bu de mian", "bu de wo", "wo bu an" and "mu bu ming".

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TCM is most effective for insomnia. About 85 percent cases have a satisfied effect.

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Syndrome (a)
Deficiency of the heart and spleen

Insomnia, dream and being easy to wake, palpitation, anorexia, fatigue and weakness, amnesia, sallow complexion, pale tongue with thin whitish fur and feeble pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Invigorating the heart and the spleen.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for invigorating the spleen and nourishing the heart Bighead atractylodes rhizome (Bai Zhu)30g, poriawith hostwood (Fu Shen)30g, Astragalus root (Huang Qi)30g, Longan aril (Long Yan Rou)30g, wild jujuba seed (Suan Zao Ren)30g, ginseng (Ren Shen)30g, Aucklandia root (Mu Xiang)15g, prepared licorice root (Gan Cao), Chinese angelica root (Dang Gui)3g, And polygala root (Yuan Zhi)3g.

Simple Prescription: Schisandra fruit (Wu Wei Zi)12g, wild jujuba seed (Suan Zao Ren)12g, prepared licorice root (Gan Cao)3g. (Concentrated herbal granule) Dissolve them in hot water and drink before sleep.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Therapeutic principle: Invigorating the heart and spleen, calm the mind.

Prescription/Formula: Shenmen(H 7), Neiguan(P 6), Zusanli(S 36), Daling(P 7), Sanyinjiao(Sp 6), Xinshu(B 15), Pishu(B 20).

  

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Syndrome (b)
Deficiency of both heart-qi and gallbladder-qi

Insomnia, fidgeting due to deficiency, abundant dreams, irritability, cowardice and shrink, palpitation, asthmatic pale tongue, feeble pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Supplementing qi and tranquilizing mind.

Prescription/Formula:Sedative and calmative bolus Poria (Fu Ling)10g, poria with hostwood (Fu Shen)10g, polygala (Yuan Zhi)10g, ginseng (Ren Shen)6g, grassleaved sweetflag rhizome (Shi Chang Pu)10g, dragon's teeth (Long Chi) 15g.

Simple Prescription: Poria with hostwood (Fu Shen)12g, wild jujuba seed (Suan Zao Ren)12g(concentrated herbal granule). Disolve them in hot water and drink before sleep.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Therapeutic principle: Supplementing qi and tranquilizing mind.

Prescription/Formula: Shenmen(H 7), Neiguan(P 6), Sanyinjiao(Sp 6), Xinshu(B 15), Danshu(B 19), Daling(P 7), Qiuxu(G 40).

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Syndrome (c)
A breakdown of the normal physiological coordination between the heart and the kidney

Insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus, feverish sensation in the palms and soles, dry mouth with a few saliva, nocturnal emission, spermatorrhoea, premature ejaculation, palpitation, amnesia, soreness of waist, red tongue with yellowish fur, thready and rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Nourishing yin to clear away pathogenic fire and tranquilizing the mind.

Prescription/Formula: Modified prescriptions of decoction of coptis and donkey-hide gelatin and heart-tonifying bolus. Dried rehmannia root (Sheng Di)15g, Chinese angelica (Dang Gui) 10g, white peony root (Bai Shao), ophiopogon (Mai Dong) 10g, coptis root (Huang Lian)6g, spiny jujube seed (Zao Ren)12g, fleece-flower stem (Yie Jiao Teng)30g, schisandra fruit (Wu Wei Zi)10g, poria with hostwood (Fu Shen)10g, red sage root (Dan Shen)10g, prepared licorice root (Gan Cao)6g, donkey-hide gelatin (E Jiao).

Simple Prescription: Coptis root (Huang Lian)2g, cinnamon bark (Rou Gui) 2g (concentrated herbal granule). Dissolve them in hot water and drink before sleep.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Therapeutic principle: Nourishing yin to remove heat and tranquilizing the mind.

Prescription/Formula: Shenmen(H 7), Neiguan(P 6), Sanyinjiao(Sp 6), Mingmen(Du 4), Shenshu(B 25), Qihai(Ren 6), Guanyuan(Ren 4).

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Syndrome (d)
Mental disturbance caused by phlegm-fire

Insomnia, vertigo, vomiting, gastric discomfort with acid regurgitation, palpitation, vexation, bitter taste in the mouth, slight thirst, chest distress, heaviness in the head, yellow greasy fur of the tongue, and slippery, rapid pulse or taut rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Removing heat-phlegm to relieve mental strain.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for clearing away gallbladder-heat. Pinellia tuber (Ban Xia)6g, bamboo shavings (Zhu Ru)6g, fruit of immature citron (Zhi Shi)6g, Tangerine peel (Chen Pi)9g, Prepared licorice root (Gan Cao)3g, poria (Fu Ling)5g, fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang)5 pcs, Chinese -dates (Da Zao)1 pc,

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Removing heat-phlegm to relieve mental strain.

Prescription/Formula: Shenmen(H 7), Neiguan(P 6), San yenjiao(Sp 6), Feishu(B 13), Chize(L 5), Fenglong(S 40).

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Syndrome (e)
Upward attack of excessive fire in the liver and gallbladder

Insomnia, headache, conjunctival congestion, hypochondriac pain, bitter taste, deafness, pain and bulge of ear, yellow urine, red tongue with yellow fur, taut pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Purging excessive fire from the liver and gallbladder and tranquilizing mind.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction of gentian for purging liver-fire. Gentian root (Long Dan Cao)6g, scutellaria root (Huang qin) 9g, capejasmine fruit (Zhi Zi)9g, oriental water plantain (Ze Xie)12g, fiveleaf akebia stem(Mu Tong)9g, plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)9g, Chinese angelica root (Dang Gui)3g, dried rehmannia root (Sheng Di), 9g, bupleurum root (Chai Hu)6g, licorice root(Sheng Gan Cao)6g.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Purging excessive fire from the liver and gallbladder and tranquilizing mind.

Prescription/Formula: Shenmen(H 7), Neiguan(P 6), San yenjiao(Sp 6), Ganshu(B 18), Taichong(Liv 3).

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

• Static Qigong:
  Relaxation Qigong
  Inner-Nourishing Qigong
  Standing Qigong
  
• Dynamic Qigong:
  Fifteen Sets of Taiji-Qigong
  Baduanjing of Internal Exercise
  Hua Tuo's Frolics of Five Animals
  Taiji
  

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
1) Wolfberry Fruit (Gouqizi)20g Hawthorn Fruit (Shanza)20g, Chicken's gizzard-skin (Jineijin)10g, rice 60g, put 4 cups of water then soak them for 20 minutes, decoct for 30 minutes.to make gruel. Eat it once a day for 2 months..
2)Pig brain, fresh pig brain, from whose meninges small blood vessels are removed, is washed clean and used singly to make soup or be braized in brown sauce for eating. It is applicable to the type of syndrome marked by hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency with breakdown of the normal physiological coordination between the heart and the kidney.

(c) Life style
1) Avoid mental stress and overstrain.Various methods of relaxation can lessen the severity of insomnia. Try doing some physical activity at daytime.
2) Avoid eating special food and deep-fried food. Be on a diet with less fat.
3) Pay attention to keep taking regular meals on time, avoid excessive food and/or drink at one meal.
4) Prevent from drinking coffee, tea and wine before sleep.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.