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1. Insomnia caused by the absence of pathogenic factors is necessarily due to a deficiency of Ying Qi (Defensive Nutritive Qi). Ying Qi governs blood; when blood is deficient, it cannot nourish the Heart. When Heart Qi is deficient, the Shen (Spirit) fails to reside within its abode. Consequently, one may experience sudden fright and palpitations, fearfulness, a sense of lingering attachment, or groundless excessive rumination, leading to insomnia throughout the night, or waking up intermittently from sleep, resulting in symptoms such as an unsettled Hun and Po (Soul and Corporeal Soul). All such conditions should be primarily treated by nourishing Ying Qi and tonifying Qi. If excessive thinking and mental fatigue damage the Heart and Spleen, leading to Qi deficiency and sinking of essence, manifesting as palpitations (Zhen Tong), startled palpitations, and insomnia, Shou Pi Decoction (Longevity Spleen Decoction) or Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) are appropriate. If internal injury by the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Overthinking, Sadness, Fear, Fright) causes consumption of Qi and Blood, or if fear damages the Kidney, or fright damages the Gallbladder, causing the Shen to lack foundation due to essence deficiency and resulting in insomnia, Wu Fu Yin (Five Blessings Drink), Qi Fu Yin (Seven Blessings Drink), San Yin Jian (Three Yin Decoction), or Wu Jun Zi Jian (Five Gentlemen Decoction) should be selected according to the situation. If both Ying Qi and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) are damaged, and Qi and Blood are severely depleted, with the Hun and Po losing their master and causing day-and-night insomnia, Da Bu Yuan Jian (Great Tonification of the Origin Decoction) modified must be used. If labor and fatigue damage the Heart and Spleen, resulting in deficiency of Middle Qi, failure of Clear Yang to ascend, and unresolved external contraction presenting with alternating chills and fever accompanied by insomnia, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) is indicated. If excessive thinking leads to Heart deficiency and insomnia with slight accompanying irritability and heat, Yang Xin Tang (Nourish the Heart Decoction) or Suan Zao Ren Tang (Sour Jujube Seed Decoction) should be used. If excessive anxious thinking consumes Heart Blood and stirs up Heart Fire, leading to irritability, heat, dry mouth, thirst, and insomnia, Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Emperor of Heaven’s Pill to Nourish the Heart) is appropriate. If Heart deficiency with abundant Fire causes mental restlessness, internal heat, palpitations, and insomnia, An Shen Wan (Calming the Spirit Pill) is indicated. If essence and blood are consumed, combined with internal accumulation of Phlegm and Qi stagnation, leading to palpitations and restless sleep at night, Mi Chuan Suan Zao Ren Tang (Secretly Transmitted Sour Jujube Seed Decoction) should be used; if Phlegm is abundant, Shi Wei Wen Dan Tang (Ten-Ingredient Warming the Gallbladder Decoction) is suitable. Generally, those who suffer from excessive labor, fatigue, and overthinking inevitably deplete their blood, causing the Shen to lose its master, thus resulting in insomnia. Even if there is slight Phlegm or Fire, these need not be addressed directly; instead, one should only focus on cultivating Qi and Blood. Once Qi and Blood are restored, all other symptoms will naturally recede. If one attempts to treat everything simultaneously and杂乱ly, the condition will worsen, the disease will be difficult to cure, and it may gradually progress to exhaustion of the Primordial Spirit (Yuan Shen), becoming incurable. My medical case record for treating Zhou Gong’s insomnia is attached in the following section on "San Xiao" (Three Consumptions).

2. Insomnia caused by the presence of pathogenic factors is resolved by eliminating the pathogens, after which the Shen naturally becomes tranquil. Therefore, when treating Wind-Cold pathogens, dispersing methods must be employed, such as various Chai Hu Yin (Bupleurum Drinks) and herbs like Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄), Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi, 桂枝), Perilla Leaf (Zisu, 紫苏), and Puerariae Radix (Gegen, 干葛). For Heat-Fire pathogens, cooling methods must be employed, such as Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction) and herbs like Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin, 黄芩), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian, 黄连), Gardenia Fruit (Zhizi, 栀子), and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai, 黄柏). For Phlegm-Fluid retention pathogens, resolving Phlegm is appropriate, such as Wen Dan Tang (Warming the Gallbladder Decoction), Liu An Jian (Six Peace Decoction), Dao Tan Tang (Guiding Out Phlegm Decoction), and Gun Tan Wan (Rolling Phlegm Pill). For Food Stagnation pathogens, promoting digestion and removing stagnation is appropriate, such as Da He Zhong Yin (Great Harmonizing the Middle Drink) and Ping Wei San (Peaceful Stomach Powder). For Water-Dampness pathogens, separating and draining fluids is appropriate, such as Wu Ling San (Five-Ling Powder), Wu Pi San (Five-Peel Powder), or Jie Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Modified Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pill). For Qi Reversal pathogens, moving Qi is appropriate, such as Pai Qi Yin (Expelling Qi Drink) and Si Mo Yin (Four-Mortar Drink). For Yin-Cold pathogens, warming the Middle is appropriate, such as Li Yin Jian (Regulating Yin Decoction) and Li Zhong Tang (Regulating the Middle Decoction). These examples merely outline the general principles in detail; further specifics should be sought in the respective chapters for treatment methods.