Professor Li Fenping's Approach to Treating Insomnia Based on Liver Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/jcmp.2024.06(09).22Keywords:
Insomnia, liver-focused treatment, Li Fenping, clinical experienceAbstract
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.
References
Zhou, Y., Xiao, Z. (1988). Study and Annotation of Mawangdui Medical Books [M]. Tianjin: Tianjin Science and Technology Press, p. 238.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines Project Team, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (2016). Clinical practice guidelines for insomnia in Traditional Chinese Medicine (WHO/WPO). World Journal of Sleep Medicine, 3(1), 8-25.
Taylor, D. J., Lichstein, K. L., Durrence, H. H. (2003). Insomnia as a health risk factor. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 1(4), 227-247.
Zhang, Y., Li, X., Li, Y., et al. (2020). Survey on sleep quality and related factors of 529 residents during epidemic prevention and control. World Journal of Sleep Medicine, 7(9), 1668-1670.
Chinese Society of Neurology, Sleep Disorders Study Group, Neuropsychology and Neurology Study Group. (2020). Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia with depression and anxiety in Chinese adults. Chinese Journal of Neurology, 53(8), 564-574.
Cmoh, Kim, H. Y., Nah, K., et al. (2019). The effect of anxiety and depression on sleep quality in individuals with high risk for insomnia: A population-based study. Frontiers in Neurology, 10, 849.
Yang, R., Liu, J., Zhou, Y., et al. (2023). Research overview on treating insomnia based on gallbladder theory [J/OL]. Journal of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1-8. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
Ou, Y., Zhou, D., Hu, H. (2015). Discussion on the correlation between the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory of "Liver Stores the Soul" and insomnia. Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 31(4), 14-17.
Zhang, X., Liang, J., Zhang, H., et al. (2023). Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia based on the theory of "Harmonization of Liver and Heart". Practical Journal of Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine, 37(10), 18-21.
Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (2008). Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Syndromes Section [M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pp. 50-53.
Tang, R. (1996). Treatise on Blood Syndrome[M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pp. 144-146.
Zhang, Y., Li, X. (2011). Exploration of the concept of insomnia in Traditional Chinese Medicine based on the theory of "Liver Stores Blood, Blood Nourishes the Soul". Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 26(10), 2211-2216.
Zhang, J. (1994). Complete Works of Jingyue [M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, p. 961.
Liu, B. (2012). Experience of Chief Physician Zhang Tianwen in treating insomnia from the liver. Guangming Traditional Chinese Medicine, 27(4), 781-782.
Ju, Y., Xu, H., Wu, M. (2002). Observation of the efficacy of Luohua Anshen Mixture in treating insomnia. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 29(5), 283-283.
Chen, Y., Chen, Y., Li, T., et al. (2019). Academic thoughts on the treatment of insomnia from Qi and Blood by Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yan Dexin. Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53(3), 1-4.
Lingshu Jing [M]. (1997). Annotated by Wang Bing, collated by Peng Jianzhong. Shenyang: Liaoning Science and Technology Press, p. 49.
Wen, L., Yi, J., Deng, L., et al. (2023). Efficacy of exercise therapy in insomnia patients and its impact on sleep quality and emotional state. World Journal of Sleep Medicine, 10(7), 1455-1458.
Jin, E.,Wu, S. (2012). Experience in dietary regulation for insomnia based on syndrome differentiation. Clinical Research in Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4(2), 108-109.
Yifang Bian Nan Da Cheng. (2006). Annotated by Ma Ruren, Wang Ronggen [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Press, p. 1078.
Ju, Y., Xu, H., Wu, M. (2002). Observation of the efficacy of Luohua Anshen Mixture in treating insomnia. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 29(5), 283-283.
Zhang, Y., Liu, W., Li, J. (2015). Systematic review of randomized controlled trials on Chinese medicine foot bath for insomnia patients. Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 31(7), 150-152.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Chunyan Liu, Fenping Li, Yinghui Tang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
