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Insomnia



Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep. It may arise at various times in a persons life and most people will experience insomnia at some point in their life. Emotional turmoil such as after separation or loss of a loved one or the stress or everyday life may induce insomnia.

In traditional medicine, it may be caused by excess Heat, Deficiency, or Wind/Yin deficiency. Excess Heat causes a greater stimulation of the nervous system and may make the mind overactive causing sleeplessness. Deficiency of the Heart and Spleen may cause sleeplessness and in this case it will come with worry, fatigue and poor digestion. The Wind-natured person suffers insomnia due to a restless and erratic mind and its associated worrying nature.

Important Aids to Help Promote Good Sleep:
1. Exercise daily
2. Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation
3. Avoid stimulants after midday and avoid sugar after dinner
4. Slow rhythmic breathing at bedtime helps induce relaxation and sleep.
5. Camomile tea or hot milk and honey before bed helps some people sleep.
6. If the mind is overactive, write down thoughts and worries before bed.
7. If not sleeping at night, still get up early and avoid sleeping during the day to induce a natural rhythm.


Western Tradition

Simples
Rose
Dill

Gall
Amomum
Myrrh
Usnea
​Poppy seed

​
Violet
Camomile
Lolium album

Saffron
Wild Rue
Almond flower
​Mandrake root-bark


Special formulas to Induce Sleep

Potion to Procure Sleep
Powder to Promote Sleep
Confection to Promote Sleep
Triangular Troches (Unani)


Promote and induce Sleep

1. Lettuce seed mixed with Oil of Roses and applied to the forehead.
2. Beat Mandrake in Vinegar and apply to the face or pulses.

Rose water
Infusion of Camomile
Cordial Decoction (Florentini)
Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia)
Syrup of Purslane seed (Mesue)
Syrup of Poppy (Mesue)
Syrup of Poppy Lesser (Mesue)
Exhilarative Syrup (Laurent)
Syrup of Chicory and Rhubarb (Nicholas)
Confection of Aniseed
Confection of Coriander
Confection of Water Lilies
Tincture of Balm
Tincture of Camomile
Wormwood Wine
Vinegar of Rose
Powder to Promote Sleep (Philon)
Philonium Romanum (Galen)
Diapapaver (Nicholas)
Expert Troches of Mahomet
Triphera Greater (Triphera Magnus) (Nicholas)
Requies (Nicholas)

Tincture Producing Sleep
Laudanum
Oil of Rose
Oil of Orris
Oil of Dill
Oil of Poppy
Oil of Mandrake
Oil of Frogs

Ointment of Poplar (Nicholas)

Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder


Nightmares


Abbots Confect of Rose (Diarrhodon Abbatis) (Nicholas)
Powder of Ambergris (Diambra) (Mesue)
Hiera Pachi, or Hiera Archigenis


TCM Classification

Insomnia
Liver Heat / Liver Qi Stagnation with Heat
difficulty falling asleep because of thinking or worrying, insomnia, irritable, depression, headache, grinding teeth during sleep, dizziness, irregular menstruation, red tongue, tooth marks on the tongue.
Xiao Yao San
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu
  Li Tang
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang


Infusion of Camomile
Infusion of Seven Flowers
Tincture of Camomile
Syr of Chicory & Rhubarb
Syrup of Violet Comp.
Cooling Powder of Gems
Heart Fire
insomnia, dreams a lot, restless, agitation, poor concentration, palpitations, thirst, desire for cold drinks, bitter taste, mouth ulcers, red complexion, red tongue tip.
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Zhu Sha An Shen Wan


Cordial Decoction (F.P.)
Cordial Decoction (Flor.)
Powder to Promote Sleep
Exhilarative Syrup
Clear the Heart 8 Powder
Cooling Powder of Gems

Blood Stasis
insomnia, irritability, anger, mood swings, low grade fever, fixed pain in the head or upper body, dry skin, purplish lips, tongue and nails, choppy pulse
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang


Yin Deficiency Heat
insomnia, sleeps restlessly, night sweats, agitation, palpitations, heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, lower back ache.
Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu
  Li Tang

Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Tian Wan Bu Xin Dan
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
Zhu Sha An Shen Wan


Diamargariton Frigidum
Cordial Decoction (Flor.)
Powder to Promote Sleep
Exhilarative Syrup (Laurent)



Heart and Spleen Deficiency
insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, fear, worrying, forgetfulness, poor memory and concentration, fatigue, lethargy, poor appetite, abdominal distension after eating, pale complexion, low pulse.

An Shen Ding Zhi Wan
Gui Pi Tang


Troch for Heart Weakness

Kidney & Liver Yin Deficiency
insomnia, frequent waking, irritability, forgetfulness, dry mouth, thirst, night sweats, sore red eyes, blurred vision, dizziness, palpitations.

Bu Gan San
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Da Bu Yuan Jian


Diamargariton Frigidum


Special Formulas

A POTION FOR INSOMNIA
    Syrup of Red Poppy        1 oz.
    Lettuce water                   1 ½ oz.



MIXTURE FOR INSOMNIA
    Conserve of Violet          3 oz.
      of Water Lily                   2 oz.
    Laudanum                        3 grains
    Diamargariton Frigidum ½ scruple



PUGILLUS SOMNIFER
    Water Lily flowers
    Violet flowers                  1 dram
    Mandrake root                ½ dram
    Dill seed
    Rose                                 1 pugil
    Opium                              1 scruple

Wrap in red linen and hold in the hand.


EMULSION FOR INSOMNIA
    White Poppy seed
    Melon seed
    Endive seed                    ½ oz.
Form an emulsion, express; add 1 oz. of sugar.
Mix and take.


Research
1. Insomnia in Iranian Traditional Medicine

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