Chinese Medicine for Sleepiness

In Chinese medicine, constant sleepiness or lethargy means the body’s vital energy is weighed down or weakened. The spleen, heart, and liver play central roles in maintaining alertness. When dampness, phlegm, or blood stagnation block energy flow—or when energy (qi) and warmth (yang) decline—fatigue and daytime drowsiness appear. Each pattern of imbalance carries its own signs, causes, and treatments.

Spleen–Dampness

Common Signs

  • Persistent sleepiness or drowsiness

  • Heaviness in the head and limbs

  • Chest discomfort and poor appetite

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Watery stools or mild diarrhea

  • Sticky or sweet taste in the mouth

  • Fatigue and reluctance to move or talk

  • Swollen body or mild edema

  • Jaundice or vaginal discharge

Treatment Principle
Dry dampness, strengthen the spleen, and awaken the mind.

Herbal Formulas: Tai-Wu-Shen-Zhu-San, Hou-Pu-Xia-Ling-Tang, Wei-Ling-Tang, or San-Ren-Tang

Helpful Foods: Gold carp, corncob, horse bean, Job’s tears, prickly ash, adzuki bean, bamboo shoot

Dampness–Sputum

Common Signs

  • Sleepiness with a feeling of heaviness in the chest

  • Cough with white or watery sputum

  • Dizziness and headache

  • Shortness of breath or panting

  • Nausea, vomiting, or hiccups

  • Excessive vaginal discharge

  • Prolonged coughs, especially during pregnancy

  • Thick, white sputum easily expelled

Treatment Principle
Transform phlegm, drain dampness, and awaken clear energy.

Herbal Formula: Wen-Dan-Tang

Helpful Foods: Adzuki bean, ambergris, barley, common carp, cucumber, mung bean, seaweed, shepherd’s purse, star fruit, bamboo shoot, crown daisy, date, fresh ginger, mustard leaf, black and white pepper, mustard seed, asparagus, pear

Spleen Energy Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Sleepiness, especially after eating

  • Fatigue and poor digestion

  • Loose stools or diarrhea

  • Loud snoring or shallow sleep

  • Weak appetite

  • Occasional vomiting or mild edema

  • Pale or tired facial appearance

Treatment Principle
Strengthen spleen energy, restore digestion, and lift clear yang energy upward.

Herbal Formulas: Xiang-Sha-Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang or Cang-Er-Zi-San with Er-Chen-Tang

Helpful Foods: Grape, longan nut, maltose, mandarin fish, Irish potato, sweet rice, apple cucumber, bog bean, gold carp, carrot, chestnut, ham, horse bean, hyacinth bean, Job’s tears, royal jelly, string bean, whitefish, yam, red and black date, mutton, squash, rock sugar, chicken egg yolk

Yang Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Cold hands, feet, and limbs

  • Frequent urination or clear urine

  • Weakness and fatigue

  • Sleepiness, especially in the elderly

  • Constipation or watery stools

  • Fear of cold or low body temperature

  • Palpitations and low energy

  • Forgetfulness and slow recovery from fatigue

Treatment Principle
Warm yang, strengthen vital energy, and increase body warmth.

Herbal Formulas: Fu-Zi-Li-Zhong-Wan with Shen-Qi-Wan

Helpful Foods: Kidney, lobster, sardine, shrimp, star anise, red and black date

Blood Coagulations (Stagnant Blood)

Common Signs

  • Sleep lasting only short intervals (about ten minutes)

  • Pain in chest, abdomen, or lower back

  • History of physical trauma or injury

  • Jaundice or dark facial color

  • Palpitations or chest pressure

  • Pain that worsens at night

  • Coughing or vomiting blood

Treatment Principle
Activate blood flow, remove stagnation, and restore circulation.

Herbal Formulas: Tong-Qiao-Huo-Xue-Tang or Fu-Yuan-Huo-Xue-Tang

Helpful Foods: Ambergris, brown sugar, chestnut, eggplant, peach, black soybean, sturgeon, sweet basil, crab, distiller’s grains, papaya, saffron

Liver Energy Congestion

Common Signs

  • Sleepiness or excessive sleeping

  • Bitter taste in the mouth

  • Abdominal pain or fullness

  • Feeling of blockage in the throat

  • Dizziness, numbness, or spasms

  • Emotional tension or irritability

  • Nausea or vomiting of blood in severe cases

Treatment Principle
Soothe the liver, disperse energy stagnation, and clear heat.

Herbal Formula: Dan-Zhi-Xiao-Yao-San

Helpful Foods: Brown sugar, garlic, turmeric, kumquat, beef, chicken, coconut meat, tofu, sweet rice, goose, mutton, jackfruit, squash, sweet potato, red and black date, rice, rock sugar, caraway seed, spearmint, button mushroom, oregano, red bean, dill seed, sweet basil, saffron

Heart Energy Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Spells of falling asleep suddenly (narcoleptic episodes)

  • Fatigue and poor memory

  • Palpitations or chest pain

  • Insomnia or light sleep

  • Nervousness or anxiety

  • Pale or white complexion

Treatment Principle
Nourish and strengthen heart energy, calm the mind, and secure the spirit.

Herbal Formula: Yang-Xin-Tang

Helpful Foods: Shark air bladder, water spinach, abalone, asparagus, dried ginger, cinnamon

Excessive sleepiness or narcolepsy in Chinese medicine often comes from internal dampness, weak energy, or stagnant circulation. Whether from spleen weakness, liver stagnation, or blood deficiency, the goal is to restore clarity by drying dampness, warming yang, nourishing the heart, or moving the blood. When balance returns, the mind becomes alert, the body light, and the spirit awake.