The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Desire to lie down can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like desire to lie down here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here desire to lie down is often associated with lassitude, loose stools and poor appetite in the pattern “Spleen Qi Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause desire to lie down.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of desire to lie down we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat desire to lie down.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause desire to lie down
In Chinese Medicine desire to lie down is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue color: Pale
Spleen Qi Deficiency is one of the most commonly seen TCM pattern. It is caused by unhealthy diet such as fat raw or cold food, bad eating habit, emotional stress or damp environment. It is the central pattern to all other Spleen disharmonies, because many other Deficiency patterns derive from it.
In addition to desire to lie down, other symptoms associated with Spleen Qi Deficiency include lassitude, loose stools and poor appetite.
Spleen Qi Deficiency is often treated with Si Jun Zi Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Si Jun Zi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Qi".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to desire to lie down, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include lassitude, loose stools and poor appetite.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Dried Ginger - Gan Jiang - as a key herb). Li Zhong Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the middle and dispel cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Middle Burner".
Three herbal formulas that might help with desire to lie down
Si Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Si Jun Zi Tang help with desire to lie down?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' of which desire to lie down is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen Qi Deficiency include lassitude, loose stools and poor appetite.
Li Zhong Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Li Zhong Wan help with desire to lie down?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which desire to lie down is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney And Spleen Yang Deficiency include lassitude, loose stools and poor appetite.
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. Clears Phlegm and mucus. Promotes appetite.
Why might Liu Jun Zi Tang help with desire to lie down?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' of which desire to lie down is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen Qi Deficiency include lassitude, loose stools and poor appetite.
Acupuncture points used for desire to lie down
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat desire to lie down
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with desire to lie down?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down as a symptom, like Si Jun Zi Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with desire to lie down?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down as a symptom, like Si Jun Zi Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with desire to lie down?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down as a symptom, like Si Jun Zi Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with desire to lie down?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down as a symptom, like Li Zhong Wan or Si Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) help with desire to lie down?
Because it is a key herb in Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' (a pattern with desire to lie down as a symptom)
Dried Ginger is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Stomach, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold.
Other symptoms often associated with desire to lie down
Lassitude Loose stools Poor appetite Lower back pain Cold and weak knees Feeling of cold Weak legs Bright-white complexion Impotence Premature ejaculation