Late at night, all is quiet, yet you toss and turn, thoughts racing, dreams incessant... Insomnia and excessive dreaming plague countless modern people, severely impacting quality of life, physical health, and mental well-being. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) categorizes this as "insomnia" (不寐, bù mèi) and "excessive dreaming" (多梦, duō mèng), identifying its core as dysfunction of the internal organs, imbalance of yin and yang, and malnourishment or disturbance of the heart-mind (心神, xīn shén).
Root Cause Analysis: Why Can't You Sleep at Night, Disturbed by Constant Dreams?
From a TCM perspective, common root causes of insomnia and excessive dreaming include:
Heart-Spleen Deficiency (心脾两虚): Overthinking or chronic illness depletes qi and blood, failing to nourish the heart-mind. Symptoms: excessive dreams, easy awakening, accompanied by fatigue and poor appetite.
Yin Deficiency with Fire Flaring (阴虚火旺): Kidney yin deficiency leads to hyperactive heart fire, disturbing the heart-mind. Symptoms: difficulty falling asleep, irritability, excessive dreams, hot palms and soles.
Liver Qi Stagnation Transforming into Fire (肝郁化火): Emotional disharmony causes liver qi stagnation, which transforms into fire and flares upward to disturb the heart-mind. Symptoms: irritability/anger, difficulty falling asleep, frequent nightmares.
Phlegm-Heat Harassing the Interior (痰热内扰): Dietary irregularities or spleen-stomach weakness generate phlegm-dampness, which stagnates and transforms into heat, disturbing the heart-mind. Symptoms: chest tightness, excessive dreams, heavy-headedness, dizziness.
Heart Deficiency and Timidity (心虚胆怯): Constitutional factors or sudden fright unsettle the heart-mind and weaken gallbladder qi. Symptoms: easily startled, frequent nightmares, palpitations, timidity.
The Path to Harmony: How Can TCM Help You Sleep Peacefully?
TCM treatment is never "one formula fits all," emphasizing precise pattern differentiation and individualized treatment:
Herbal Medicine for Internal Regulation: Formulas are selected based on the specific pattern. Examples: Guipi Decoction (归脾汤) for Heart-Spleen Deficiency (tonifies qi, nourishes blood, calms spirit); Huanglian Ejiao Decoction (黄连阿胶汤) for Yin Deficiency with Fire Flaring (nourishes yin, drains fire); Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder (丹栀逍遥散) for Liver Qi Stagnation Transforming into Fire (soothes liver, clears heat); Wendan Decoction (温胆汤) for Phlegm-Heat Harassing the Interior (transforms phlegm, clears heat); Anshen Dingzhi Pills (安神定志丸) for Heart Deficiency and Timidity.
Meridian Regulation (Acupuncture): Acupuncture at points like Shenmen (HT7), Neiguan (PC6), Baihui (GV20), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Anmian (Extra point) harmonizes qi and blood, balances yin and yang, and quiets the heart-mind.
External Therapies for Sleep Support: Tui Na (therapeutic massage) on the head, back, and specific points, or herbal foot baths promote relaxation and guide fire back to its source.
Mind Cultivation is Key: Guidance on establishing regular sleep routines, practicing meditation or mindfulness, harmonizing emotions, and avoiding excitement before bed.
Case Study
Patient: Ms. Fang, 30 years old, insomnia for 2 years.
Presenting Complaint: Difficulty falling asleep, frequent dreaming once asleep, morning dizziness, accompanied by poor concentration, memory decline, physical fatigue, poor appetite.
Pattern Differentiation: Heart-Spleen Deficiency, Qi and Blood Deficiency.
Treatment Principle: Primarily tonify the spleen, boost qi, nourish blood, and calm the spirit.
Prescription: Modified Guipi Decoction (归脾汤加减).
Progress & Feedback: After two weeks, the patient reported reduced fatigue, improved appetite, and ability to sleep 5-6 hours per night, though dreaming remained frequent. After 3-4 weeks, two additional spirit-calming herbs were added. The patient then reported sleep was basically normal with only occasional dreams; dizziness disappeared. Treatment was consolidated for one further week, resulting in full recovery.
Important Note: TCM emphasizes pattern differentiation and treatment tailored to the individual. Specific herbal formulas, dosages, and modifications must be determined and supervised by a qualified TCM practitioner based on a personal consultation. Avoid self-medication.
