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.
Insomnia 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 insomnia 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 insomnia is often associated with restlessness, scanty periods and abdominal pain in the pattern “Blood Stagnation”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause insomnia.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of insomnia we’ve identified five 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 insomnia.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause insomnia
In Chinese Medicine insomnia is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Blood Stagnation
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian), Firm (Lao)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Blood Stagnation, like the name indicates, is when Blood flow becomes Stagnant. It can happen in the whole body or in specific Organs.
It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the body.
In addition to insomnia, other symptoms associated with Blood Stagnation include restlessness, scanty periods and abdominal pain.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Scanty Menstruation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding or Heavy Menstruation.
Blood Stagnation is often treated with Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Tao He Cheng Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dispels Heat and".
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Si Wu Tang, a formula used for Blood Deficiency
Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Someone has a Deficiency of Blood when their entire body, a part of body or a particular Organ is insufficiently nourished by Blood.
This can be caused by blood-loss, a lack of of Spleen Qi (responsible to produce Blood) or congealed Blood which prevents new Blood from forming.
In addition to insomnia, other symptoms associated with Blood Deficiency include dizziness, palpitations and blurred vision.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation or Scanty Menstruation.
Blood Deficiency is often treated with Si Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Si Wu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Restores and nourishes Blood".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Thin
Heart Blood Deficiency hurts the Mind (神 Shen) and it causes insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety, poor memory, dizziness and tendency to be scared. It can be caused by Deficient Spleen Qi that fails to produce Blood, long-term anxiety and worry, a severe blood loss and excessive workload.
In addition to insomnia, other symptoms associated with Heart Blood Deficiency include dizziness, palpitations and restlessness.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Heart Blood Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Postpartum Depression.
Heart Blood Deficiency is often treated with Si Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Si Wu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Restores and nourishes Blood".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Fine (Xi), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
This pattern developed from Heart Blood Deficiency. It shares similar symptoms as the latter one, such as insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, easily to be scared, poor memory and anxiety, but it also has additional empty Heat symptoms. It can be caused by Kidney Yin Deficiency or other factors such as bad diet, overwork or long term exposure to stress or hot environment.
In addition to insomnia, other symptoms associated with Heart Yin Deficiency include dizziness, palpitations and night sweats.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Heart Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Absence Of Menstruation or Postpartum Depression.
Heart Yin Deficiency is often treated with Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a herbal formula made of 14 herbs (including Unprepared Rehmannia - Di Huang - as a key herb). Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish the heart and calm the mind", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic: Nourishes Yin, Blood and Vital Essence of the Heart and Kidney".
Dong Quai (Dang Gui) is the king ingredient for Sheng Yu Tang, a formula used for Blood and Qi Deficiency
Blood and Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to insomnia, other symptoms associated with Blood and Qi Deficiency include dizziness, palpitations and anxiety.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood and Qi Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Low Breast Milk Supply, Menstrual Cramps or Absence Of Menstruation.
Blood and Qi Deficiency is often treated with Sheng Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Dong Quai - Dang Gui - as a key herb). Sheng Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Qi and Blood".
Five herbal formulas that might help with insomnia
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation. Softens and resolves hard lumps such as cysts and fibroids.
Why might Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan help with insomnia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which insomnia is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Blood Stagnation can contribute to many health issues, including Scanty Menstruation.
Ren Shen Zi Xie Tang
Why might Ren Shen Zi Xie Tang help with insomnia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Deficiency' of which insomnia is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Blood Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Late Menstruation.
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi and Blood. Nourishes the Heart. Calms the spirit.
Why might Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang help with insomnia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood and Qi Deficiency' of which insomnia is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Blood and Qi Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Absence Of Menstruation.
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with insomnia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Blood Deficiency' of which insomnia is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Heart Blood Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Postpartum Depression.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Source date: 16th century
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic: Nourishes Yin, Blood and Vital Essence of the Heart and Kidney. Clears away pathogenic Heat, clears Deficient Heat. Sedative.
Why might Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan help with insomnia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Yin Deficiency' of which insomnia is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Heart Yin Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Postpartum Depression.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat insomnia
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with insomnia?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat insomnia and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat insomnia as a symptom (such as Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan 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 insomnia?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat insomnia and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat insomnia as a symptom (such as Ren Shen Yang Rong 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 Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with insomnia?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat insomnia and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat insomnia as a symptom (such as Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for instance).
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Why might Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong) help with insomnia?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat insomnia and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat insomnia as a symptom (such as Mai Men Dong Tang for instance).
Dwarf Lilyturf Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Why might Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian) help with insomnia?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat insomnia and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat insomnia as a symptom (such as Jiao Tai Wan for instance).
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart, the Large intestine and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Conditions associated with insomnia
Late menstruation Scanty menstruation Postpartum depression Absence of menstruation Spontaneous flow of breast milk Menopausal syndrome Vaginal itching Lupus
Other symptoms often associated with insomnia
Dizziness Palpitations Night sweats Restlessness Anxiety Blurred vision Scanty periods Tinnitus Fatigue Depression