Insomnia - fire syndrome caused by yin deficiency
Accompanying signs: absent-mindedness, palpitations, forgetfulness, warm feelings in the chest, palms and soles, dizziness, ear ringing, night sweats, lumbar soreness, knee weakness, mouth dryness, wet dream or menstrual problems. The tongue is red and the pulse is thready and rapid.
Pathogenesis: the insomnia usually occurs in those with chronic conditions. As physical weakness brings about kidney yin deficiency, the kidney will then fail to restrict heart functioning, disruption between heart and kidney occurs. Moreover, excess virtual fire has accumulated that makes the heart and spirit irritating, leading to signs of sleep problems, absent-mindedness and palpitations. Exhaustion of kidney essence leads to inadequate marrow production for the brain, and develops dizziness, ear ringing and poor memory. Kidney weakness also leads to sexual dysfunction, wet dream, waist soreness and knee weakness. The warm feelings, mouth dryness, red tongue and pulse signs are all typically associated with yin deficiency and lack of nourishment inside the body.
Therapeutic aims: nourish yin, check fire, clear heart and clam spirit
Sample prescription: Modified Golden Thread & Donkey Gelatin Decoction (huang lian e jiao tang)
huang lian | golden thread rhizome | Rhizoma Coptidis |
huang qin | baical skullcap root | Radix Scutellariae |
e jiao | donkey-hide gelatin | Colla Corii Asini |
bai shao | white peony root | Radix Paeoniae Alba |
Ji zhi huang | egg yolk | |
ci shi | magnetic stones | magnetitum |
bai zi ren | Chinese arborvitae kernel | Semen platycladi |
suan zao ren | sour jujube seed | Semen Ziziphi Spinosae |
sheng di | rhemannia root | Radix Rehmanniae |
gan cao | liquorice root | Radix Glycyrrhizae |
In the prescription, the thread rhizome and skullcap root clear the fire in the heart and ease the warm feelings; the rhemannia root and peony root enrich blood and nourish yin; the donkey-hide gelatin nourishes yin and harmonizes blood flow; the eye yolk benefits the kidney and heart; all these ingredients work together to ensure the coordination between the heart and kidney. Other ingredients like magnetic stones, arborvitae kernel and jujube seed are selected for nourishing the heart and calming spirit; the liquorice root acts as buffer in the formula.
In case if the individulas suffer from obvious absent-mindedness, palpitations, irregular menses or web dream, cassia bark is added to inhibit the persistent up-flowing of the kidney's virtual fire.
If individuals only have restless sleeping while accompanied with hot flushes, Heaven King Heart Nourishing Pellet (tian wang bu xin dan) is a suitable remedy for this condition.
Insomnia | Fire syndrome caused by liver stagnation Phlegm-heat harassment Fire syndrome caused by yin deficiency Deficiencies of heart and spleen Qi deficiency of heart and gallbladder |