Mechanism of Postprandial Drowsiness and the Clinical Application under the Model of Wei Qi Circulating from Yin to Yang
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2025.08.002
- VernacularTitle:基于卫气“从阴绕行出阳”模式探讨餐后嗜睡的病机及临证应用
- Author:
Pengfei KANG
1
;
Boju SUN
2
;
Conghui WANG
1
;
Xiangmei CHEN
1
Author Information
1. Department of Nephrology，First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital / National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases，Beijing，100141
2. Fengtai District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital，Beijing
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
postprandial drowsiness;
wei qi （defensive qi）;
mutual induction of yin and yang;
The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;66(8):769-774
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Postprandial drowsiness is a clinical condition characterized by pronounced drowsiness after meals， while The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》） associates this condition with wei qi （defensive qi）. By analyzing the original texts of The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor and perspectives from many medical professionals， it is found that the transition between wakefulness and sleep depends on the mutual induction of yin and yang， and that the two pathways of wei qi circulation intersect at the spleen and stomach. Based on this， the core pathogenesis of postprandial drowsiness is proposed to be either upper jiao obstruction or spleen-stomach dysfunction， leading to the stagnation of wei qi internally， then the mutual induction of yin and yang causes inward invasion of wei qi in the body， resulting in drowsiness； at this stage， the stagnated and inward invasive wei qi converges at the spleen and stomach， then merges into the circulation of zang-fu organs， rerouting through the Foot Taiyang Meridian， forming a circulation pattern described as "circulating from yin to yang". Treatment should focus on the root and branch simultaneously， with the primary goal of regulating the circulation of wei qi； facilitating its transition from yin to yang to restore the sleep-wake cycle. By proposing the model of wei qi circulating from yin to yang， this study offers novel insights on the understanding of postprandial drowsiness.
