insomnia Flashcards
normal sleep is the result of:
regulation of yin and yang in the body.
“At the termination of yang qi, yin qi is exuberant. This results in the closing of the eyes. At the termination of yin qi, yang qi is exuberant. This results in waking.”
yang governs:
yin governs:
awakening
sleeping
root cause of insomnia
pathological change due to
yang exuberance or yin deficiency
which may manifest as insomnia
or yang not interacting with yin
sleep happens when the movement of yang is quiet
when the stillness of yin qi moves, then there is wakefulness
heart governs
storage of spirit
kidney governs
storage of essence which rises to connect with the brain
liver governs
coursing and discharging
gall bladder governs
decision making
yang exuberance or yin deficiency of the HT, KD, LR, GB all have close relationship with development of insomnia
among these the relationship of the HT is the most important
Although there is not one disease that causes sleeplessness, it is governed by the spirit. When the spirit is peaceful, there is sleep; when the spirit is disquieted, then there is sleeplessness. The spirit is disquieted by the harassment by xie qi or by the insufficiency of ying qi. When there is xie qi there is generally an excess pattern. When there is no xie qi, then there is deficiency pattern.
quote from physician Zhang Jin Yue
primary depletion patterns of insomnia
deficiency of yin, essence, blood
in HT, SP, LR, KD
primary excess patterns of insomnia
harassment by heat, food stagnation, phlegm turbidity
in HT, ST, LR, GB
difficulty in falling asleep or
waking easily after sleeping or
restless sleep
with signs of heat such as body heat esp. at night
Heat entering Ying level
excess insomnia pattern
difficulty in falling asleep generally occurs after eating a full meal
oppression of the stomach duct
belching
uncomfortable sensation in the abdomen
possible: spitting of sour fluids
clamoring stomach
pain and distension of the stomach duct and abdomen
Disharmony of Stomach Qi
excess insomnia pattern
difficulty in falling asleep easily waking after sleep and difficulty returning to sleep or frequently waking from fright w/ dizziness vexation agitation fright palpitations chest oppression tendency to sign bitter taste in the mouth
tongue: yellow fur
pulse: string like and slippery
Depressed Gallbladder phlegm harassment
(excess insomnia pattern)
phlegm heat signs:
dizziness, vexation, agitation
GB failing to course and discharge:
chest oppression
signing
bitter taste in mouth
difficulty entering sleep fearful dreaming frequent waking from fright inability to fall asleep at all vexation and agitation severe case: nonsensical talk or abnormal crying, laughing, scolding, raving maybe constipation, reddish urine etc.
tongue: red, with yellow & slimy fur
pulse: string like, slippery, rapid, excess
phlegm fire pattern
excess insomnia pattern
