Discussion on Prevention and Treatment of Insomnia with"Time"Based on Theory of Time Medicine in Huangdi Neijing
10.16466/j.issn1005-5509.2025.09.004
- VernacularTitle:基于《黄帝内经》时间医学探析以"时"防治不寐
- Author:
Xiaoqing ZHOU
1
;
Yingying TANG
;
Jialing CHEN
Author Information
1. 浙江中医药大学附属第一医院(浙江省中医院) 杭州 310006;浙江中医药大学第一临床医学院
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Huangdi Neijing;
insomnia;
time medicine;
wake-sleep rhythm;
correspondence between nature and humans;
waxing and waning of Yin and Yang;
five movements and six climates;
midnight-midday ebb flow
- From:
Journal of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
2025;49(9):1115-1120
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
[Objective]Based on the holistic view of"correspondence between nature and humans"in Huangdi Neijing,which is central to traditional Chinese time medicine theory,to explore a new diagnostic and therapeutic approach to insomnia from the perspective of"time".[Methods]By grounding in ancient and modern literature,this study elucidates the connotations of traditional Chinese time medicine and systematically reviews the temporal rhythms and derived theories related to insomnia in Huangdi Neijing,summarizing the approach to treating insomnia through time medicine.[Results]The disruption of the wake-sleep rhythm is a primary pathological mechanism of insomnia.The circadian rhythm,the four seasons rhythm,the exceeding the age rhythm and the meridians rhythm discussed in Huangdi Neijing are closely related to insomnia.They could be encapsulated into four major theories:the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang,the viscera and bowels managing time,the five movements and six climates,and the midnight-midday ebb flow theory.This study advocates a four-level strategy for insomnia,closely aligned with time medicine theory and the pathogenesis of insomnia,namely"regulating Yin and Yang""adapting to the four seasons""responding to annual Qi"and"reinforcement and elimination of Nazhi".[Conclusion]The time medicine concept in Huangdi Neijing has objectively effects in the prevention and treatment of insomnia,providing a new breakthrough and integration point for clinical diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.In clinical diagnosis and treatment of insomnia,the consideration of time rhythms should be fully integrated to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
