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Insomnia, classified under the category of “Bu Mian” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is a chronic condition characterized by the inability to obtain normal sleep. It is closely related to liver function. TCM treatment for insomnia follows the holistic principle of “integrating man with nature” and applies syndrome differentiation to implement individualized treatments. The safety of herbal medicine, combined with the absence of drug dependence, makes it highly favored by patients compared to Western medications. Professor Li Fenping believes that insomnia results from dysfunction in the liver’s regulation of Qi and blood, which prevents the Hun (ethereal soul) from returning, thus disrupting sleep. Based on clinical practice, she has identified four major liver-related patterns in insomnia: liver Qi stagnation with unsettled Hun, deficiency of heart and liver blood (or Yin) leading to poor nourishment of the Shen (spirit), liver fire excess disturbing the Hun, and blood stasis obstructing the meridians and unsettling the Shen. These distinct approaches to liver-focused treatment of insomnia have expanded the clinical applications of TCM in treating the disorder, with remarkable therapeutic outcomes. This paper presents Professor Li Fenping’s clinical experience in treating insomnia from the perspective of liver pathology.
Liu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.