Episodic sleeping sickness is a manifestation of disorders of consciousness. The state of consciousness is determined by waking function and cognitive ability, which is maintained by the normal function of the brainstem reticular formation and the cerebral hemispheres. It is now generally accepted that the superior reticular activating system is directly related to wakefulness and sleep, and that the superior reticular activating system is a multisynaptic transmission relay system, with part of the neuronal transmitter being acetylcholine and part of the neuronal transmitter being norepinephrine, and that the perfect and normal function of the superior reticular activating system is mainly to maintain the body’s wakefulness, sleep-wake cycle, consciousness and attention, among other physiological functions. It is mostly used clinically as a central nervous system stimulant to treat episodic sleeping sickness. Methylphenidate has a certain effect, and the mechanism is that it can increase the excitability of the cerebral cortex, improve the arousal state of the subthalamic and reticular structures, and control narcolepsy episodes to relieve the patient’s symptoms. The author has applied stilbene A to treat narcolepsy effectively. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter related to sleep and wakefulness. Ach in the cortex helps maintain wakefulness, Ach in the brainstem is involved in fast-wave sleep together with the caudal blue spot nucleus, Ach inhibits 5-HT neuronal activity in the head of the middle suture nucleus against slow-wave sleep, Ach increases wakefulness and decreases slow-wave sleep and total sleep time. The theory of lithospermidine A for the treatment of episodic sleeping sickness seems to be well established, but the number of cases is small.