insomnia from Liver-Yin deficiency.

This patient's sleep pattern first improved by being able to fall asleep

easily although he still woke up during the night. Presumably this is

because Liver-Blood (responsible for not falling asleep) was helped

before Liver-Yin. After about 6 months of fortnightly treatments he

started sleeping through the night.

Appendix I: Somnolence

Somnolence indicates the tendency to be always rather sleepy and lethargic. Like insomnia, this
is also due either to a pathogenic factor obstructing the Mind or to deficient Qi and Blood
reaching the Mind.

Dampness and/or Phlegm Misting the Mind

Clinical Manifestations

Sleepiness after lunch, a feeling of heaviness, a feeling of muzziness of the head as if it were full
of cotton-wool, a feeling of oppression of the chest, dizziness (if there is Phlegm).

Tongue: Pale, Swollen and with a sticky coating.

Pulse: Slippery or Weak-Floating and slightly Slippery.

This pattern is due to Dampness obstructing the head and preventing the clear Qi from rising
upwards to brighten the upper orifices. Another explanation of somnolence deriving from
Dampness and/or Phlegm is that Dampness obstructs the space between the skin and muscles
where the Defensive Qi flows. Because this space is obstructed, the Defensive Qi, Yang in
nature, cannot flow there, so it stays in the Yin and the patient feels always sleepy. Chapter 80 of
the "Spiritual Axis" says:

Defensive Qi flows in the Yang during the day and in the Yin at night, when Yang

slows down one is sleepy, when Yin slows down one is awake. When Stomach and

Intestines are big, Defensive Qi stays there for a long time, the skin is obstructed

by Dampness ... Defensive Qi slows down, it stays in the Yin for a long time, Qi is

not clear and somnolence results.48(326)

Treatment Principle

Resolve Dampness and/or Phlegm and tonify the Spleen.

Acupuncture