Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine, insomnia can be triggered mainly by 5 causes. Since ancient times in China, people used many remedies and formulas to treat insomnia. According to Chinese medicine insomnia theory, insomnia is always associated with the heart. In fact, the concept of “heart” in traditional Chinese medicine, to some extent, is the equivalence of the brain in modern medicine.

Chinese medicine insomnia theory

According to Chinese medicine insomnia theory, the causes for insomnia are as follows:

1. Gastrointestinal function and eating disorders. Eating disorders would damage gastrointestinal function easily, which leads to stagnation of food and phlegm-heat;
2. Liver function disorders. Liver can be impacted easily by negative emotions. The folded functions of liver can result in stagnation of Qi and blood stasis. Therefore, people with negative emotions tend to feel upset and suffer from insomnia;
3. Dysfunction of heart and kidney. People who are with physical weakness or chronic illness are usually deficient of kidney Yin. The disharmony between the heart and kidney tends to contribute to heart-fire hyperactivity. The heat can injure shen (spirit), which is stored in heart. Therefore, it would lead to restlessness and insomnia.
4. Function disorders of spleen and stomach. Anxiety and stress injure the heart and consume heart Yin furtively, which will lead to mentally wandering and insomnia. The injured spleen can result in loss of appetite and deficiency of blood, which in the end fail to nourish the heart and lead to insomnia;
5. Gall bladder dysfunction. A guilty conscience, cowardice and the feeling of frightened and upset easily can lead to insomnia as well.

The root of Chinese medicine insomnia theory

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese medicine insomnia theory, there are many causes for insomnia. But the root is basically related with the sickness of the “heart”. For example,

• Deficiency of heart blood;
• Deficiency of kidney Yin fails to eliminate heart-fire;
• Excessive liver-fire can lead to excessive heat-fire;
• Confusion of heart (mind) by phlegm;
• …

All these causes, more or less, are relevant to the “heart”. Actually, a considerable portion of the “heart” in Chinese medicine insomnia theory is relevant to brain in modern medicine.

Chinese medicine insomnia remedies

The principles of Chinese medicine insomnia remedies are subject to the syndrome, which refers to the so-called syndrome differentiation.

The regular Chinese medicine insomnia remedies are as follows;

• Soothing the heart and tranquilizing the mind;
• Clearing heat and eliminating fire;
• Nourishing yin to reduce pathogenic fire;
• Clearing heat and expectoration
• Promoting blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis;
• …

Although the principles of Chinese medicine insomnia remedies might vary, the results tend to be good if used properly.

Regular used herbs for insomnia

In Chinese medicine, insomnia can be treated by many herbs. The list is so long that it is hard to list them all.

Some regular used herbs for insomnia are as follows:

• Tian Ma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae);
• Lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum);
• Ge Gen (Radix Puerariae);
• Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis);
• Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Graminei)
• Yuan Zhi (Polygala tenuifolia);
• Bai Zi Ren (Semen Platycladi);
• Suan Zao Ren (Zizyphus spinosa);
• Lian Zi Xin (Plumula Nelumbinis Nuciferae);
• Hu Po (Amber);
• Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis);
• Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris);
• …

All these herbs have the effect of soothing the heart and tranquilizing the mind. No doubt using these herbs in appropriate combination according to the principles of Chinese medicine, insomnia can be cured or improved.

In addition, Chinese medicine insomnia remedies are more than that. Acupuncture, ear acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and laser acupuncture are also the regular and proven remedies to treat insomnia. In most of cases of the combination of herbs and acupuncture in Chinese medicine, insomnia tends to be cured more quickly and effectively.