Chinese herbal formula for treating insomnia

Insomnia is often caused by psychological factors. If these factors cannot be properly resolved, it will be difficult to recover from insomnia. Some people suffer from long-term insomnia, which is not good for their life and health. They cannot bear the long-term distress, so they hope to use Chinese medicine to improve their insomnia. So, what are the traditional Chinese medicine formulas for treating insomnia? Let’s take a closer look below.

1. The liver depression and fire type is mostly caused by anger and depression, and is manifested by insomnia, irritability, red eyes and bitter taste in the mouth, dry and hard stools, red tongue with yellow coating, and a stringy and rapid pulse.

【Medication 1】

[Prescription] Akebia 3g, Scutellaria 10g, Gardenia 10g, Alisma 10g, Gentiana 10g, Bupleurum 10g, Angelica 10g, Plantago 10g, Licorice 6g, Rehmannia glutinosa 15g, Ziziphus jujuba seed 15g, Dragon's tooth 30g, Magnet 30g.

[Effects] Gentiana scabra, scutellaria baicalensis and gardenia jasmine in the formula clear the liver and reduce fire; orientalis, akebia and plantain seed clear damp-heat in the liver meridian; angelica and rehmannia root nourish blood and harmonize the liver; bupleurum chinense unblocks the qi of the liver and gallbladder; liquorice harmonizes the middle; spina jujuba seeds, dragon's tooth and lodestone calm the mind and soothe the nerves; the whole formula has the effects of soothing the liver and relieving heat, calming the mind and soothing the nerves.

【Medication 2】

[Prescription] 30g each of chamomile seedlings and polished rice, and a little rock sugar.

[Cooking] Wash and chop the tender leaves of chamomile into small pieces, then cook them into porridge with rice and rock sugar.

[Effects] Clears heat from the liver and gallbladder, benefits liver qi, clears the sun and calms the mind. It is mainly used to treat neurasthenia, insomnia caused by liver depression and fire transformation.

2. Phlegm-heat internal disturbance type

It is often caused by improper diet, overeating, excessive consumption of fatty, sweet, raw and cold foods, or alcoholism, which leads to heat in the stomach and intestines and phlegm and heat rising up. Symptoms include insomnia, heavy head, chest tightness, irritability, belching, acid regurgitation, loss of appetite, yellow and greasy tongue coating, and slippery and rapid pulse.

[Prescription] Coptis chinensis 10g, Pinellia ternata 12g, Tangerine peel 6g, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae 2g, Citrus aurantium 9g, Poria 12g, Anemarrhena asphodeloides 10g, Trichosanthes kirilowii seed 10g, Licorice root 6g.

【Cooking】Depends on the ingredients and is taken in decoction.

【Effects】Clears phlegm and resolves heat, calms the mind and soothes the heart. 3. The Yin deficiency and fire excess type is mostly caused by physical weakness and essence deficiency, excessive indulgence, and spermatorrhea, which leads to kidney Yin exhaustion and hyperactivity of heart fire, manifested as restlessness and insomnia, fever in the five hearts, tinnitus and forgetfulness, red tongue, and thin and rapid pulse.

[Prescription] 4 liang of Coptis chinensis, 2 liang of Scutellaria baicalensis, 2 liang of Paeonia lactiflora, 3 liang of donkey-hide gelatin, and 2 egg yolks.

[Preparation] Use six liters of water to boil the three ingredients first, take out two liters, remove the dregs, add gelatin to dissolve completely, cool slightly, add egg yolk, stir until mixed, take seven doses of warm water three times a day.

【Effects】: Nourishes yin, reduces fire and calms the mind. It is used for patients with heart and kidney deficiency, severe yin deficiency and hyperactivity of fire, restlessness, insomnia, red tongue with dry coating, and thin and rapid pulse. 4. Deficiency of both heart and spleen type: due to aging, mental fatigue or long-term illness, it causes deficiency of qi and blood, manifested as frequent dreams, easy awakening, dizziness, fatigue, sallow complexion, pale tongue with thin coating, and weak pulse.

[Prescription] Atractylodes macrocephala, Angelica sinensis, white Poria cocos, Astragalus membranaceus (fried), longan pulp, Polygala tenuifolia, Ziziphus jujuba seeds (fried) each one qian, costusroot five fen, licorice (roasted) each three fen, and ginseng one qian. Add ginger and dates.

【Cooking】 Decoction in water.

【Effects】Nourishes blood and soothes the mind, nourishes the heart and spleen, and regulates menstruation. 5. The heart and gallbladder qi deficiency type is caused by sudden fright, or hearing a loud noise, seeing a foreign object, or being in danger, and the symptoms include nightmares, easy awakening at night, timidity and palpitations, being easily frightened when encountering things, and a pale tongue and a thin and stringy pulse.

[Prescription] 60g of Chinese jujube seeds (slightly fried), 30g of ginseng, 15g of gypsum (crushed), 22.5g of red tuckahoe (black skin removed), 15g of cinnamon (rough skin removed), 15g of Anemarrhena asphodeloides (cut and roasted), and 15g each of liquorice (roasted).

[Cooking] Coarsely pound and sieve the above seven ingredients. Take 15g each time, boil with 230ml water until 180ml, remove the residue and drink warm.

【Effects】Nourishes blood and soothes the mind, clears away heat and relieves restlessness. Everyone's physique is different, and the causes of insomnia are also different for everyone. Therefore, when we choose these treatment methods, it is best to pay attention to choosing according to our own situation. In addition, when using these methods, we should pay attention to using them under the guidance of a doctor to ensure our own health.