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Proprietary Chinese Medicine to Promote Sleep

Sleep is necessary for people of all ages to attain good physical, mental and emotional health. However, 24-hour communication, shift work, travelling and irregular working hours are more and more interfering us from sleep. People usually only admit to having a sleeping problem when it really disrupts their lives. By this time however, the mental and physical symptoms may not be that easy to resolve. Sleeping pills are only suitable for occasional and short-term relief. Proprietary Chinese medicines are formulated herbal products that are manufactured under standardization and modern techniques. They help provide a long-term, non-addictive way to promote sleep.

A package of herbal solution

Whatever your reason for sleep loss, insomnia affects both mental and physical aspects. People with insomnia are likely to experience irritability, headache, fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, poor memory and low immunity, leading to poor job performance. According to TCM, people with insomnia have various disharmonies resulting from disruption between the physical body and the mind. TCM sleep remedies not only aim at calming the mind, but also promoting the integration of body and mind. The remedies should also be designed to target specific disharmony patterns, as it is an individual experience for each suffer.

Below are classic formulas and are marketed under the name of the original formula. Since they are relatively low in cost and readily available, TCM physicians like to prescribe them as long-term supplementary options.

Chinese Name 天王補心丹
Pinyin tian wan bu xin dan
English name Heaven King Heart-Nourish Pellets
Actions Clam the mind, invigorate the heart, nourish blood and enrich yin
Symptom pattern Insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, irritability, palpitations, blurred vision, sweating, fatigue, difficult to concentration, poor memory, a tendency to be constipated and to develop mouth sores. The tongue is red with little coating.
Remarks Suitable for people who overuse the mind or who have had a nervous breakdown.

Chinese Name 人參歸脾丸
Pinyin ren seng gui pi wan
English name Restore the Spleen Pill with Ginseng
Actions Invigorate the spleen, replenish blood and qi (vital energy), calm the mind
Symptom pattern Difficulty in falling asleep, dream-disturbed sleep or easily wakened, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, poor memory, abdominal distension, and loose bowels.
Remarks Suitable for people who overuse the mind or who have had a nervous breakdown.

Chinese Name 交泰丸
Pinyin jiao tai wan
English name Communicating and Tranquilizing Pill
Actions Soothe the heart, calm the mind, promote communication between the heart and kidney
Symptom pattern Difficulty in falling asleep, dream-disturbed sleep, irritability, anxiety, palpitations, dry mouth, frequent urination, constipation, a red tongue with or without greasy coating.
Remarks Suitable for those who often drink alcohol and who overeat heavy, greasy foods.

Chinese Name 加味消遙散
Pinyin jia wei xiao yao san
English name Free and Easy Wanderer Plus
Actions clear the liver, disperse qi stagnation, purge fire and soothe the mind
Symptom pattern Insomnia, irritability, anxiety, easy to anger, excessive sweating, tightness in the chest, headache, blurred vision, dry mouth, dry stools, yellowish urine and menstrual problems in women. The sleep problem is usually aggravated by emotional distress.
Remarks Suitable for those who have a stressful lifestyle or during menopause. Not recommended for a weakened digestive system.

Chinese Name 牛黃清心丸
Pinyin niu huang qing xin wan
English name Heart-Clear Bezoar Pill
Actions Calm the overall body, soothe the heart, clear heat and dispel phlegm
Symptom pattern Insomnia, nightmares, palpitations, irritability, dizziness, absentminded, slow response, mood swings, and a red tongue
Remarks Suitable for people with hypertension or cardiovascular problems. Not recommend for a weakened digestive system.

Chinese Name 血府逐瘀丸 
Pinyin xue fu zhu yu wan
English name Dispel Stasis in the Blood Mansion Pill
Actions Activate blood, resolve stasis, promote qi flow and stop pain
Symptom pattern Insomnia, chest pain or fullness, headache, neck or shoulder soreness, hiccup, irritability, easy to anger, menstrual irregularities in women, purple-spotted tongue
Remarks Suitable for people with hypertension or cardiovascular problems.

Chinese Name 保和丸
Pinyin bao he wan
English name Preserve Harmony Pill
Actions Harmonize stomach, promote digestion and calm the mind
Symptom pattern Insomnia accompanied by indigestion, such as abdominal distention and pain, nausea or vomiting, belching, bad breath, foul-smelling stools, tongue with a greasy yellow coat

Chinese Name 柏子養心丸
Pinyin bai zi ren yang xin wan
English name Arborvitae Seed Pill to Nourish the Heart
Actions Nourish the heart, replenish blood, clam the mind and settle the emotions
Symptom pattern Insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, palpitations, forgetfulness, mental fatigue, blurred vision, dizziness, shortness of breath, night sweats, and a pale tongue.
Remarks Suitable for people with cardiovascular problems and who have had a nervous breakdown.

Chinese Name 養血安神丸
Pinyin yang xue an shen wan
English name Nourish Blood and Clam the Mind Pill
Actions    Enrich yin, nourish blood, soothe the heart and clam the mind
Symptom pattern  Insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, palpitations, mouth dryness, blurred vision, dizziness, ear ringing, lumbar soreness, hot flashes, and a red tongue with fur
Remarks Suitable for neurasthenia, anemia, hyperthyroidism or menopause that show the above symptoms.

Besides being available as pills, the above can also be made into other forms such as soft extracts, capsules, powders syrup, tablets or granules. Find a reputable brand and read the label carefully before you buy any proprietary medicine.