How Chinese Medicine Manage Drowsiness
Drowsiness is a state of near-sleep, a strong desire for sleep, or sleeping for unusually long periods. Drowsy people tend to fall asleep in inappropriate situations or at inappropriate times, which affects their family, social life and job performance.
Feeling abnormally sleepy during the day may suggest the presence of a sleep disorder; other possible causes including:
- Long working hours or shift work
- Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- Health problems such as hypothyroidism, depression and obesity
- Brain damage
If clinical examination rules out any physical cause for dromsiness, you may try Chinese medicine methods for relief.
From a TCM viewpoint, yin dominates rest, while yang dominates motion, drowsiness is a disturbance of the sleep-wake cycle. When the body is in abundant yin or deficient yang, there usually results in a lack of energy and motivation. Individuals with drowsiness have either:
- Excessive of yin pathogens such as phlegm and dampness that obstruct the orifices in the head region or disturb the normal functioning of the spirit;
- Insufficiency of yang qi to keep the spirit alert
 Eupatorium herb |
 Agastache |
 Acorus |
Herbal prescriptions for drowsiness
Physicians will design the remedies according to the causes, medical history and associate signs. The remedies are often aimed at invigorating the spleen, warming the kidney, expelling dampness or resolving stasis. Furthermore, aromatic herbs such as fortune eupatorium herb (pei lan), acorus (shi chang pu) and agastache (huo xiang) are able to refresh the spirit and are commonly adopted to the prescriptions.
Turbid dampness disturbed the spleen
Feeling abnormally sleepy during the day, and accompanied with bloating, no appetite, excessive throat secretion, fatigue, feeling heaviness in the forehead and limbs. The tongue is covered by white and greasy fur, and the pulse is rolling. This disharmony pattern often occurs in the rainy season or in those who are obese. The remedy should dry dampness and invigorate the spleen.
Sample prescription: Calm the Stomach Powder plus agastache, acorus and pinellia tuber.
Heat phlegm obstructed internally
Feeling abnormally sleepy during the day, snoring with a dull sound, yellowish sticky throat secretion, dry mouth with a bitter taste, constipation and yellowish urine; a red tongue covered by yellowish greasy fur, and the pulse is rolling and rapid. The remedy should clear heat, resolve phlegm and unblock the orifices.
Sample prescription: Coptis Decoction to Warm the Gallbladder plus acorus and arisaema with bile (dan nan xing).
Middle burner weakness
Drowsiness that is worse after meals, fatigue, limb weakness, loose bowels and abdominal distension. The tongue is pale and has little fur and the pulse is weak. The remedy should invigorate the spleen, promote qi production, and refresh the spirit.
Sample prescription: Tonify the Middle & Augment the Qi Decoction plus atractylodes rhizome, costus root and peppermint.
Insufficiency of yang-qi
Drowsiness, mental fatigue, lack of appetite, limb coldness and forgetfulness; a pale tongue, and the pulse is deep and weak. The remedy should warm yang, replenish qi, and invigorate the spleen.
Sample prescription: Aconite Pill for Regulating the Middle plus pilose asiabell root and hyacinth bean.
Blood stasis obstructed brain collaterals
Drowsiness lasting a long time, there may also be dizziness and headache (sharp pain) and a darken complexion. The tongue looks purplish or has purple spots on it; the pulse is taut. Individuals may have had trauma to the head. The remedy should activate blood and unblock the meridians.
Sample prescription: modified Unblock Orifices and Activate Blood Decoction
Acupuncture for drowsiness
Acupuncture therapy activates blood and qi flowing in the meridian system, and resolves stasis or stagnation in the head region, and also enhances the self-regulating power of the body, which can relieve drowsiness. Acupoints selected are mainly along the heart, spleen, and liver meridians and also the Governor Vessel and Conception Vessel.
Massage for drowsiness
Massage or acupressure techniques can act locally to promote blood circulation and remove stagnation. Click to see Acupressure for easing mental stress and relaxation.
Lifestyle advice for drowsiness
Individuals with drowsiness should maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, keep a plain diet and regular excise. Balance between work and rest is also essential.
Southern China is in sub-tropical zone, and drowsiness is a common ailment in the area during summer. TCM regards it as a problem caused by dampness, the hot and wet weather making it easy for the exogenous dampness evils to accumulate in the body. Hot and rainy summers also cause people to feel sweaty, thirsty, irritable, tired, lacking an appetite, and with a heaviness feeling in the forehead and limbs. Herbal beverages made with fresh local ingredients are an ideal way to prevent these summer-induced conditions, and the traditional teas are popular remedies in southern China.
Foods with a cool property are also recommended to consume during this period, such as bitter gourd, watermelon, peach, strawberries, spinach, tomato, mung bean, cucumber, wax gourd, lotus root, lotus seed, coix seed, bean sprouts, duck and fish. These foods can expel excessive heat from the body and promote urination.
The following is a refreshing soup for summer:
Prepare American ginseng (30g), dried lotus leaf (30~50g), and fresh wax gourd (1000g). Wash and chop the wax gourd into large pieces (don't remove the green peel). Wash the lotus leaf and ginseng. Put all ingredients in a pot with 2 liters of water, bring to a boil first and then simmer for approximately one hour. Add salt to taste and serve hot.
The soup can clear summer heat, induce urination and relieve fatigue. American ginseng promotes the production of qi (vital energy) inside the body, so this soup can enhance overall body functioning and is especially suitable for those who often work overtime.
