治心中气血虚损，兼心下停有痰饮，致惊悸不眠。
龙眼肉（六钱） 酸枣仁（四钱，炒捣） 生龙骨（五钱，捣末） 生牡蛎（五钱，捣末） 清半夏
（三钱） 茯苓片（三钱） 生赭石（四钱，轧细）
若服一两剂后无效者，可于服汤药之外，临睡时用开水送服西药臭剥一瓦，借其麻痹神经之力，以收一
时之效，俾汤剂易于为力也。
方书谓∶痰饮停于心下，其人多惊悸不寐。盖心，火也，痰饮，水也，火畏水刑，故惊悸至于不寐也。
然痰饮停滞于心下者，多由思虑过度，其人心脏气血，恒因思虑而有所伤损。故方中用龙眼肉以补心血，酸枣
仁以敛心气，龙骨、牡蛎以安魂魄，半夏、茯苓以清痰饮，赭石以导引心阳下潜，使之归藏于阴，以成瞌睡之功也。
一媪，年五十余，累月不能眠，屡次服药无效。诊其脉有滑象，且其身形甚丰腴。知其心下停痰也。为
制此汤，服两剂而愈。
一妇人，年三十许，一月之间未睡片时，自言倦极仿佛欲睡，即无端惊恐而醒。诊其脉左右皆有滑象，
遂用苦瓜蒂十枚，焙焦轧细，空心时开水送服，吐出胶痰数碗，觉心中异常舒畅，于临眠之先又送服熟枣仁
细末二钱，其夜遂能安睡。后又调以利痰养心安神之药，连服十余剂，其证永不反复矣。
《内经》邪客篇有治目不得瞑方。用流水千里以外者八升，扬之万遍，取其清五升煮之，炊以苇薪。水
沸，置秫米一升，制半夏（制好之半夏）五合，徐炊令竭为一升半。去其渣饮汁一小杯，日三稍益，以知为度
（知觉好也）。故其病新发者，复杯则卧，汗出而已矣，久则三饮而已也。观此方之义，其用半夏，并非为其
利痰，诚以半夏生当夏半，乃阴阳交换之时，实为由阳入阴之候，故能通阴阳和表里，使心中之阳渐渐潜藏于
阴，而入睡乡也。秫米即芦稷之米（俗名高粱），取其汁浆稠润甘缓，以调和半夏之辛烈也。水用长流水，更
扬之万遍，名曰∶“劳水”，取其甘缓能滋养也。薪用苇薪，取其能畅发肾气上升，以接引心气下降，而交其
阴阳也。观古人每处一方，并其所用之薪与水及其煎法、服法，莫不
详悉备载，何其用心之周至哉！
按∶《内经》之方多奇验，半夏秫米汤，取半夏能通阴阳，秫米能和脾胃，阴阳通、脾胃和，其人即可
安睡。故《内经》谓“饮药后，复杯即瞑”，言其效之神速也。乃后世因其药简单平常，鲜有用者，则良方竟
埋没矣。门生高××治天津刘姓，年四十二，四月未尝少睡，服药无效，问治法于愚，告以半夏秫米汤方。高××
因其心下发闷，遂变通经方，先用鲜莱菔四两切丝，煎汤两茶杯，再用其汤煎清半夏四钱服之。时当晚八点钟，
其人当夜即能安睡，连服数剂，心下之满闷亦愈。
治疗心中气血虚损，兼心下（胃脘部）停有痰饮，导致惊悸、失眠。
龙眼肉（六钱） 酸枣仁（四钱，炒后捣碎） 生龙骨（五钱，捣成粉末） 生牡蛎（五钱，捣成粉末） 清半夏（三钱） 茯苓片（三钱） 生赭石（四钱，轧细）
如果服用一两剂后无效，可以在服用汤药的同时，临睡前用开水送服西药溴化钾一瓦（约0.6克），借助其麻痹神经的作用，以收一时之效，使汤药更容易发挥作用。
医书说：痰饮停滞在心下的人，大多容易惊悸、失眠。因为心属火，痰饮属水，火畏惧水的克制，所以会导致惊悸甚至无法入睡。然而，痰饮停滞在心下，多由思虑过度引起，人的心脏气血，常常因思虑而受到损伤。所以方中使用龙眼肉来补心血，酸枣仁来收敛心气，龙骨、牡蛎来安定魂魄，半夏、茯苓来清除痰饮，赭石来引导心阳下行潜藏，使其回归阴分，从而起到促成睡眠的作用。
有一位五十多岁的老妇人，连续几个月不能睡觉，多次服药无效。诊察她的脉搏有滑象，且身形非常丰腴。判断她是心下停有痰饮。为她配制了此汤，服用两剂后痊愈。
有一位三十岁左右的妇女，一个月内没有睡过片刻，自己说疲倦极了仿佛想睡，却无故惊恐而醒。诊察她的左右脉都有滑象，于是用苦瓜蒂十个，焙焦后轧细，空腹时用开水送服，吐出胶状痰液数碗，感觉心中异常舒畅，在临睡前又送服熟酸枣仁细末二钱，当晚就能安稳入睡。后来又调理使用利痰、养心安神的药物，连续服用十余剂，此病再也没有复发。
《黄帝内经·灵枢·邪客》篇中有治疗目不瞑（失眠）的方子。取千里之外的流水八升，反复扬洒万遍，取其澄清的五升来煮，用芦苇作为燃料。水沸腾后，放入秫米（高粱米）一升，制半夏（炮制好的半夏）五合，慢慢煎煮直到剩余一升半。去掉药渣，每次饮用一小杯，每日三次，逐渐增加剂量，以见效为度（知觉好转即停止加量）。所以如果是新发的病，喝完药放下杯子就能睡着，出汗就好了；如果是久病，喝三次就好了。观察这个方子的用意，使用半夏，并不是为了利用它化痰的功效，实在是因为半夏生长于夏至前后，正是阴阳交替之时，确实是由阳入阴的时机，所以能沟通阴阳、调和表里，使心中的阳气渐渐潜藏于阴分，从而进入梦乡。秫米就是芦稷的米（俗名高粱），取其汁液浆稠润、味甘性缓，用来调和半夏的辛烈之性。用水用长流水，并且扬洒万遍，名叫“劳水”，取其甘缓能滋养的特性。燃料用芦苇，取其能畅发肾气上升，以接引心气下降，从而交济阴阳的道理。看古人每制定一个方子，连同所用的燃料和水以及煎法、服法，无不详细记载，用心何其周到细致啊！
按语：《黄帝内经》中的方子大多奇特有效，半夏秫米汤，取半夏能通调阴阳，秫米能调和脾胃，阴阳通畅、脾胃调和，人就可以安睡。所以《黄帝内经》说“服药后，放下杯子就睡着了”，说的是药效神速。然而后世因为它的药材简单平常，很少有人使用，致使良方竟然被埋没了。门生高某某治疗天津姓刘的病人，四十二岁，四个月未曾稍睡，服药无效，向我询问治法，我告知他半夏秫米汤的方子。高某某因为病人心下发闷，于是变通经方，先用新鲜莱菔（萝卜）四两切丝，煎汤两茶杯，再用这汤煎清半夏四钱服用。当时是晚上八点，那人当晚就能安睡，连续服用几剂，心下的满闷也好了。
Treats deficiency and damage of Qi and Blood in the Heart, accompanied by retention of Phlegm-Fluid (Tan-Yin) below the Heart (epigastric region), resulting in palpitations and insomnia.
Longan Aril (Lóngyǎn Ròu) (6 qian) Sour Jujube Seed (Suānzǎo Rén) (4 qian, stir-fried and crushed) Raw Dragon Bone (Shēng Lónggǔ) (5 qian, powdered) Raw Oyster Shell (Shēng Mǔlì) (5 qian, powdered) Processed Pinellia Rhizome (Qīng Bànxià) (3 qian) Poria Cocos (Fúlíng Piàn) (3 qian) Raw Hematite (Shēng Zhèshí) (4 qian, finely ground)
If there is no effect after taking one or two doses, besides taking the decoction, before sleep, take Western medicine Potassium Bromide (Xiùyào Chòubō) one wa (approx. 0.6g) with warm water, utilizing its nerve-paralyzing effect to achieve a temporary result, thereby facilitating the action of the herbal decoction.
Medical texts state: People with Phlegm-Fluid retained below the Heart often suffer from palpitations and insomnia. The Heart belongs to Fire, while Phlegm-Fluid belongs to Water; Fire fears the constraint of Water, thus leading to palpitations and inability to sleep. However, Phlegm-Fluid retention below the Heart is mostly caused by excessive overthinking, which constantly damages the Qi and Blood of the Heart. Therefore, the formula uses Longan Aril to tonify Heart Blood, Sour Jujube Seed to consolidate Heart Qi, Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell to calm the Hun and Po (Soul and Corporeal Soul), Pinellia Rhizome and Poria Cocos to clear Phlegm-Fluid, and Hematite to guide Heart Yang downward and submerge it, allowing it to return to Yin, thus achieving the function of inducing sleep.
An elderly woman, over fifty years old, had been unable to sleep for months, with previous medications ineffective. Her pulse exhibited a slippery quality, and her body was very plump. It was determined that she had Phlegm retention below the Heart. This decoction was prescribed, and she recovered after two doses.
A woman, around thirty years old, had not slept at all for a month. She stated that although extremely fatigued and seemingly wanting to sleep, she would wake up suddenly due to baseless fear and panic. Her left and right pulses both showed a slippery quality. Ten bitter melon stalks (Kugua Dì) were roasted until charred, ground fine, and taken on an empty stomach with warm water. Several bowls of viscous phlegm were vomited out, and she felt exceptionally comfortable in her chest. Before sleep, two qian of fine powder of cooked Sour Jujube Seed were administered, enabling her to sleep peacefully that night. Subsequently, she was treated with herbs to resolve phlegm, nourish the Heart, and calm the Spirit, taking more than ten doses, after which the condition never recurred.
The chapter "Xie Ke" (Evil Invading) in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon) contains a prescription for treating insomnia (Mu Bu De Ming). It instructs to take eight sheng of flowing water from a distance of a thousand li, splash it ten thousand times, and take five sheng of the clarified water for boiling, using reed firewood as fuel. When the water boils, add one sheng of Sorghum Grain (Shumi) and five he of Processed Pinellia Rhizome (Zhi Banxia), simmer slowly until only one and a half sheng remains. Remove the dregs and drink a small cup of the juice, three times a day, gradually increasing the dose, stopping when improvement is perceived (Zhi). Thus, for newly onset cases, sleep occurs immediately after drinking, accompanied by sweating; for chronic cases, three doses suffice. Observing the intent of this formula, the use of Pinellia Rhizome is not primarily for resolving phlegm, but rather because Pinellia grows at mid-summer, a time of Yin-Yang exchange, representing the transition from Yang to Yin. Hence, it can connect Yin and Yang and harmonize the exterior and interior, allowing Heart Yang to gradually submerge into Yin, leading to sleep. Sorghum Grain (Shumi), also known as Gaoliang, is used for its thick, moist, sweet, and mild juice to harmonize the acrid and harsh nature of Pinellia. The water used is long-flowing water, splashed ten thousand times, named "Labor Water" (Laoshui), chosen for its sweet, mild, and nourishing properties. Reed firewood is used because it promotes the ascent of Kidney Qi to receive the descent of Heart Qi, thereby interacting Yin and Yang. Observing how ancient physicians detailed every aspect of their prescriptions, including fuel, water, decoction methods, and administration, reveals their meticulous care!
Note: Prescriptions in the *Neijing* are often remarkably effective. Banxia Shumi Tang (Pinellia and Sorghum Decoction) utilizes Pinellia's ability to unblock Yin and Yang, and Sorghum's ability to harmonize the Spleen and Stomach. When Yin and Yang are unblocked and the Spleen and Stomach are harmonized, one can sleep peacefully. Thus, the *Neijing* states "after taking medicine, sleep comes as soon as the cup is put down," indicating the speed of efficacy. However, later generations rarely used it because the ingredients were simple and common, causing this excellent prescription to be buried. My student Gao XX treated a patient surnamed Liu in Tianjin, aged forty-two, who had not slept for four months despite medication. He asked me for treatment advice, and I provided the Banxia Shumi Tang formula. Since the patient complained of fullness below the Heart, Gao XX modified the classic formula: first, he decocted four liang of fresh Radish (Laifu) cut into strips in two cups of water, then used this liquid to decoct four qian of Clear Pinellia Rhizome (Qing Banxia). At 8 PM that evening, the patient slept peacefully. After several doses, the epigastric fullness also resolved.