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[Lingshu] The Yellow Emperor asked: What qi causes a patient to be unable to sleep? Qibo replied: When Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) cannot enter the Yin aspect, it remains constantly in the Yang aspect. Remaining in the Yang aspect leads to an excess of Yang Qi; when Yang Qi is excessive, the Yang Qiao vessel becomes full. Inability to enter the Yin aspect results in deficiency of Yin Qi, thus causing the eyes to remain open (insomnia). It also states: What qi causes a patient to be unable to open their eyes and see? Qibo replied: When Wei Qi remains in the Yin aspect and cannot circulate in the Yang aspect, remaining in the Yin aspect leads to an excess of Yin Qi; when Yin Qi is excessive, the Yin Qiao vessel becomes full. Inability to enter the Yang aspect results in deficiency of Yang Qi, thus causing the eyes to close (hypersomnia). (From "Da Huo Lun")

The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian has a pathway entering the brain from the nape, directly connecting to the root of the eye, named the Eye System (Yan Xi). If there is severe pain in the head and eyes, treatment points are located between the two tendons in the middle of the nape, entering the brain, where they diverge to connect with the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels. Yin and Yang intersect here; Yang enters Yin, and Yin exits Yang, intersecting at the outer canthus of the eye. (According to the study of the Qiao vessels, this should read "inner canthus of the eye".) When Yang Qi is excessive, the eyes are open; when Yin Qi is excessive, the eyes are closed. (From "Han Re Lun")

The Emperor asked: When pathogenic factors invade the human body, why does it cause some people to be unable to sleep or lie down? Bo Gao replied: Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) circulates in the Yang aspect during the day and in the Yin aspect at night, usually passing through the branches of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian to circulate among the Zang-Fu organs. Now, if Jue Qi (Rebellious Qi) lodges in the Zang-Fu organs, Wei Qi can only guard the exterior, circulating in the Yang aspect and unable to enter the Yin aspect. Circulating in the Yang aspect leads to excess of Yang Qi; when Yang Qi is excessive, the Yang Qiao vessel becomes full ("Xian" [sunken/depressed] should be "Man" [full]). Unable to enter the Yin aspect, Yin Qi becomes deficient, thus causing the eyes to remain open (insomnia). The Emperor asked: How should it be treated? Bo Gao replied: Tonify the deficiency, drain the excess, regulate the deficiency and excess, unblock the pathways, and eliminate the pathogen. Administer one dose of Banxia Tang (Pinellia Decoction); once the Yin and Yang are unblocked, sleep will return immediately. The Emperor said: Excellent. This is what is meant by dredging obstructions, unblocking the meridians extensively, and harmonizing Yin and Yang. I wish to hear the prescription. Bo Gao replied: For the decoction, use eight sheng of flowing water from a distance of a thousand li, throw it up ten thousand times, take five sheng of the clear water, boil it using reed fire until boiling, add one sheng of Shumi (Sorghum Rice) and five he of processed Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome), simmer slowly until reduced to one and a half sheng, remove the dregs, drink one small cup at a time, three times a day, gradually increasing the dose until the desired effect is achieved. For newly onset diseases, sleep comes as soon as the cup is put down, and sweating indicates recovery; for chronic cases, three doses are sufficient. (From "Xie Ke Pian"; Note: According to Materia Medica, Shumi refers to glutinous rice.)

The Emperor asked: What qi causes people to sleep excessively? Qibo replied: This person has large intestines and stomach, moist skin, and tight muscle interstices that do not separate. Large intestines and stomach mean Wei Qi stays longer; moist skin means muscle interstices do not separate, causing slow circulation. Wei Qi usually circulates in the Yang aspect during the day and in the Yin aspect at night; thus, when Yang Qi is exhausted, one sleeps, and when Yin Qi is exhausted, one wakes. Therefore, large intestines and stomach cause Wei Qi to stay longer; moist skin and tight muscle interstices cause slow movement, keeping it in the Yin aspect for a long time. If the Qi is not clear, the eyes close, leading to hypersomnia. Conversely, small intestines and stomach, smooth and relaxed skin, and separated muscle interstices allow Wei Qi to stay longer in the Yang aspect, leading to less sleep (tendency towards insomnia). (From "Da Huo Pian")

The Emperor asked: If it is not the normal meridian pattern, but sudden hypersomnia occurs, what qi causes this? Qibo replied: Pathogenic factors remain in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), which becomes blocked and unpatent. After eating or drinking soup, Wei Qi remains long in the Yin aspect and cannot exit, thus causing sudden hypersomnia. (From "Da Huo Pian")

[Haizang] Insomnia due to Gallbladder Deficiency is caused by Cold; stir-fried Suanzaoren (Ziziphus Seed) powder taken with Zhuye (Bamboo Leaf) decoction. (From *Taiping Shenghui Fang*) Hypersomnia due to Gallbladder Excess is caused by Heat; raw Suanzaoren (Ziziphus Seed) powder taken with tea and Ginger Juice. (From *Jizhong Fang*; Another method: One liang of raw Suanzaoren (Ziziphus Seed), two liang of La Cha (Aged Tea), coated with Ginger Juice and roasted until slightly scorched, pounded and sifted into powder. Take two qian per dose, decoct in seven-tenths of a cup of water until reduced to six-tenths, take warm, at any time.)