3 causes of insomnia and treatment
According to Oriental medicine, insomnia is caused by many factors. When the organs in the body are weakened, damaged, or out of balance... it can all lead to insomnia.
To effectively treat insomnia, it is possible to base on specific symptoms (manifestations) to determine the exact cause of the disease and use the appropriate medicine as follows:
1. Due to damage to the heart and spleen
- Reason:Overwork, fatigue or anxiety, thinking… Symptoms of insomnia or frequent sleepwalking, easy to wake up; accompanied by some symptoms such as dark complexion, lethargy, forgetfulness, irregular heartbeat, loss of appetite, muscle aches, pale tongue, weak pulse.
- Main treatment:Nourish the spleen and heart.
- Decoction:8g of roasted Chinese yam, 12g of roasted Chinese yam, 12g of lotus seeds (with the core, roasted until golden), 10g of longan, 12g of young Chinese yam, 12g of acacia leaves (roasted until black) 8g; boil and drink 1 dose per day. Drink continuously for 7-10 days as 1 course; rest for 5 days, then continue with another course.
2. Due to kidney yin deficiency and heart fire excess, insomnia occurs.
- Reason:The body's yin and yang are out of balance, manifested by difficulty sleeping, frequent sleepwalking, accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, sadness for no reason, heavy head, dizziness, back and knee pain, hot palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, red tongue, and rapid pulse.
- Main treatment:Fire suppression, mind clearing.
- Decoction:24g black beans, 24g black sesame, 12g young rice cake, 12g young mulberry leaves, 12g passionflower (vine and leaves), cassia seed (senna seed, burnt black); boil and drink 1 dose per day. Drink for 10 consecutive days as 1 course; rest for 5 days, then continue with another course.
3. Insomnia is caused by decreased function of the spleen and stomach (digestive system).
- Reason:The accumulated waste (phlegm) over time turns into Fire, disturbing the vocal organs and causing insomnia. Symptoms include insomnia or difficulty sleeping, frequent dreaming, waking up easily, heavy head, blurred vision, epigastric discomfort, pain on both sides of the ribs, bitter mouth, greasy yellow tongue coating, and rapid pulse.
- Main treatment:Clear heat and transform phlegm.
- Decoction:(with heart) 24g, apple seed (roasted black) 10g, tangerine peel 8g, cyperus rotundus (bear root) 12g, radish seed 12g, gardenia fruit 8g, Chinese clematis root 12g, licorice 6g; boil and drink 1 dose per day. Drink for 7-10 consecutive days as 1 course; rest for 5 days, then continue with another course.
