INSOMNIA BY PATTERN

Mary Anne Matta

Excess Types: LV Fire, Phlegm Heat

Deficient Types: SP Qi & HT Blood Deficiency, KD Yin Deficiency, HT & GB Deficiency

Organs involved – SP, HT, KD, GB, LV

LV Fire – chronic insomnia w/ heat signs, rage, sub-costal pain, bitter mouth
§ Tongue is red with yellow coat
§ Pulse is wiry and rapid
§ Points to drain LV & Heat – LV 2, LV 18
§ Points to calm Shen – PC 7, HT 7
§ Points for insomnia – GB 44

Phlegm Heat – insomnia w/ phlegm signs, full or distended chest, poor digestion & appetite, dizzy,
nauseous, heat signs, bitter mouth
§ Tongue is greasy with white coat – just Phlegm
§ Tongue is greasy with yellow coat – Phlegm Heat
§ Pulse is slippery
§ Points to resolve phlegm – ST 40, PC 5
§ Points to tonify Spleen - CV 12, ST 36
§ Points to clear the mind – HT 7, GV 20
§ Points to clear heat if present – ST 45

SP Qi & HT Blood Deficiency – insomnia disturbed by dreams, poor appetite & memory, fatigue,
palpitations
§ Tongue is pale with thin white coat
§ Pulse is thin and weak
§ Points to tonify Spleen – SP 6, ST 36, BL 20
§ Points to nourish the Heart – HT 7, BL 15
§ Points for insomnia – Anmian, moxa SP 1

KD Yin Deficiency – insomnia with trouble falling asleep or waking often. Yin Deficient signs – five
palm heat, palpitations, night sweats, dizziness, poor memory. KD Deficiency signs – sore back &
knees
§ Tongue is red with no coat
§ Pulse is rapid and thin
§ Points to tonify Yin – KD 3, KD 6, SP 6
§ Points to calm Shen – HT 7, PC 7
§ Points for night sweats – SI 3, HT 6, Anmian (insomnia)

HT & GB Deficiency – insomnia, shy, timid, easily startled, inability to make decisions
§ HT & GB relationship – opposites on the clock; Wood is the mother of Fire
§ Tongue has no specific characteristics. Could be pale with scalloping
§ Pulse is wiry and thin
§ Points to tonify the Heart – HT 7, BL 15
§ Points to tonify Wood – BL 18, BL 19, GB 44
§ Points to tonify the Spleen - SP 6 (spleen disharmony causes sleep disruptions)
§ Points for insomnia – Anmian