Insomnia - phlegm heat harassment
Sleep pattern: difficult falling asleep, shallow sleep and frequent waking. The sleep problems are usually induced by an improper diet.
Accompanying signs: feelings of annoyance, heaviness in the head, blurred vision, chest tightness, excessive throat secretions, nausea, loss of appetite and belching. The tongue has yellowish and greasy fur; the pulse is rolling and rapid.
Pathogenesis: the insomnia is mostly caused by food retention or typically aggravated by it. Since this impairs the spleen and stomach working, resulting in excessive dampness and phlegm development internally; the pathogens further turn into fire as end products. When the phlegm combines with the fire and travel upwards to the heart and irritate the spirit, there will be difficulty in sleeping as well as feelings of annoyance. The more unhealthy in eating, the more serious in sleep problems. Furthermore the retained food and phlegm are likely to block qi (vital energy) flowing, causing heaviness in the head, blurred vision, and chest tightness. A dysfunction stomach leads to loss of appetite, belching and nausea. The yellow and greasy tongue fur and the pulse sign all indicate phlegm and heat accumulations and food retention as well.
Therapeutic aims: resolve phlegm, clear heat, harmonize middle burner and calm spirit
Sample prescription: Modified Warm Gallbladder Decoction (wen dan tang)
In the prescription, the pinellia tuber, tangerine peel and bitter orange regulate the qi movement, resolve the phlegm and harmonize the stomach; the poria invigorates the spleen and resolves phlegm; the thread rhizome, gardenia fruit and bamboo shavings clear the heart and purge the fire; the poria also helps to calm the spirit; liquorice root usually acts as a buffer in the formula.
In cases if the food retention is serious, some herbs should be added to enhance digestive process and resolve the phlegm:
In cases if individuals have constipation, and stay awakened all night, extra herbs are added to purge the heat and check the fire:
In cases if individuals experience palpitations and restlessness, the following ingredients will have calming effect and stablize the spirit:
Accompanying signs: feelings of annoyance, heaviness in the head, blurred vision, chest tightness, excessive throat secretions, nausea, loss of appetite and belching. The tongue has yellowish and greasy fur; the pulse is rolling and rapid.
Pathogenesis: the insomnia is mostly caused by food retention or typically aggravated by it. Since this impairs the spleen and stomach working, resulting in excessive dampness and phlegm development internally; the pathogens further turn into fire as end products. When the phlegm combines with the fire and travel upwards to the heart and irritate the spirit, there will be difficulty in sleeping as well as feelings of annoyance. The more unhealthy in eating, the more serious in sleep problems. Furthermore the retained food and phlegm are likely to block qi (vital energy) flowing, causing heaviness in the head, blurred vision, and chest tightness. A dysfunction stomach leads to loss of appetite, belching and nausea. The yellow and greasy tongue fur and the pulse sign all indicate phlegm and heat accumulations and food retention as well.
Therapeutic aims: resolve phlegm, clear heat, harmonize middle burner and calm spirit
Sample prescription: Modified Warm Gallbladder Decoction (wen dan tang)
| ban xia | pinellia tuber | Rhizoma Pinelliae |
| zhu ru | bamboo shavings | Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam |
| zhi shi | immature bitter orange | Fructus Aurantii Immaturus |
| chen pi | dried tangerine peel | Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae |
| gan cao | liquorice root | Radix Glycyrrhizae |
| fu ling | poria | Poria |
| huang lian | golden thread rhizome | Rhizoma Coptidis |
| zhi zi | gardenia fruit | Fructus Gardeniae |
In the prescription, the pinellia tuber, tangerine peel and bitter orange regulate the qi movement, resolve the phlegm and harmonize the stomach; the poria invigorates the spleen and resolves phlegm; the thread rhizome, gardenia fruit and bamboo shavings clear the heart and purge the fire; the poria also helps to calm the spirit; liquorice root usually acts as a buffer in the formula.
In cases if the food retention is serious, some herbs should be added to enhance digestive process and resolve the phlegm:
| bing lang | areca seed | Semen Arecae |
| lai fu zi | radish seed | Semen Raphani |
| ji nei jin | chicken's gizzard-skin | Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli |
In cases if individuals have constipation, and stay awakened all night, extra herbs are added to purge the heat and check the fire:
| da huang | Chinese rhubarb | Radix et Rhizoma Rhei |
| gua lou | Mongolian snakegourd | Fructus Trichosanthis |
In cases if individuals experience palpitations and restlessness, the following ingredients will have calming effect and stablize the spirit:
| zhen zhu mu | nacre | Concha Margaritifera |
| long gu | fossil bone | Os Draconis |
| ci shi | magnetic stones | magnetitum |
| 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 |
