Insomnia ⁽²¹⁾

In the Qing-dynasty physician Chen Shiduo's Bianzheng Lu (Records of Pattern Differentiation) there is a formula called "Shenjiao Tang" ("Spirit-Communion Decoction"). Its composition is: ginseng 1 liang (30 g), Ophiopogon (Maimendong) 1 liang (30 g), Morinda (Bajitian) 1 liang (30 g), Biota seed (Baiziren) 5…

Huanglian Wendan Decoction comes from Liuyin Tiaobian (Systematic Identification According to the Six Causes) by the Qing physician Lu Zixian. Its composition is: Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), 2 qian (6 g); Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam), 4 qian (12 g); Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), 2 qian…

Case 1: A 57-year-old woman surnamed Yu, a Beijing resident, first consulted me by video on May 10, 2024. The patient had long favored meat but had switched to a light diet over the past five years, and three months earlier had begun a low-fat,…

In the Gu Jin Yi Tong Daquan there is a formula called Yangxin Tang, composed of: Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Rehmanniae preparata (Shudi), and Poriae Sclerotium Pararadicis (Fushen), each 1 qian (3 g); Ginseng and Ophiopogon, each 1.5 qian (4.5 g); Schisandrae…

Shizhen Guoyi Guoyao (2003, 14.12) once published an experiential formula for treating insomnia in the elderly. It is an augmentation of the "Suanzaoren Tang" (Sour Jujube Seed Decoction) from Jingui Yaolue (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet). The formula is: Bulbus Lilii (baihe) 30 g,…

The Waitai Miyao includes a formula called Liushui Tang (Flowing-Water Decoction), originally collected in the Xiaopin Fang, which Wang Tao of the Tang dynasty incorporated when compiling the Waitai Miyao. Its composition is: Banxia (Pinellia) 2 qian (6 g), Jingmi (round-grain rice) 9 qian (27…

Liu Duozhou treated a woman with cough and panting who had to sit upright to breathe and could not lie flat (lying flat made the cough worse). The cough was frequent, with profuse sputum and chest fullness, gurgling sounds in the chest, white greasy tongue…

In *Records of Pattern Differentiation* (Bianzheng Lu) by the Qing-dynasty physician Chen Shiduo, there is a formula named "Anshen Dan" (Spirit-Pacifying Pill). Its composition is: 15g each (5 qian) of white peony root (Baishao), unprocessed rehmannia root (Shengdihuang), and Chinese angelica (Danggui); 3g of licorice…

"Yu Zhi Zi Wan" comes from Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang (Prescriptions from the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary). In Yu Yao Yuan Fang (Formulary of the Imperial Pharmacy) it is also named "Zhen Xin Wan" (Heart-Tranquilizing Pill). It is a formula for nourishing the heart and…

'Shangxia Liangji Dan' is from Bingzheng Lu by the Qing-dynasty physician Chen Shiduo. It is composed of Renshen (Ginseng) 15 g, Shudihuang (processed Rehmannia) 30 g, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 15 g, Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) 9 g, Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 1.5 g, and Huanglian (Coptidis…