Insomnia is a common physiological and psychological disorder. According to the 2002 Global Insomnia Survey, 43.4% of Chinese people have experienced different degrees of insomnia in a year. Long-term insomnia can have serious adverse effects on a person’s normal life and work, and can even cause serious accidents. Chinese medicine has a long history of treating insomnia and has accumulated rich clinical experience, and in recent years, the majority of medical workers have conducted relevant research from clinical and experimental aspects, and have made many achievements. The clinical research on the treatment of insomnia in Chinese medicine in recent years is reviewed and analyzed as follows: I. Dialectical treatment Dialectical treatment is one of the characteristics of Chinese medicine, and Chinese medicine also follows this principle in treating insomnia. However, there is no unified and accepted standard for the clinical typing of insomnia, and each doctor mostly treats it according to his own experience. Tan [1] classified 125 cases of insomnia into 4 types (deficiency of the heart and spleen, non-interaction of the heart and kidney, phlegm-heat disturbing the heart, and fire in the heart and liver), and compared the efficacy of treatment with Western medicine Valium in 30 cases. The results showed that the total effective rate was 92% in the TCM classification treatment group and 73.3% in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). Qian et al [2] classified 90 cases of insomnia into 5 types: liver stagnation and fire type, phlegm-heat internal disturbance, yin deficiency and fire, heart and spleen deficiency, and heart deficiency and timidity, and carried out the herbal treatment, and their overall cure rate was 32.22%, the apparent rate was 36.67%, and the total effective rate was 93.33%; a comparison with the group of prescribed medicine proved that the clinical effect of prescribed medicine was significantly greater than that of those with prescribed medicine. Shi [3] classified insomnia patients into 7 types: deficiency of the heart and spleen, yin deficiency and fire, heart and kidney disconnection, liver depression and blood deficiency, heart deficiency and bile, phlegm-heat internal disturbance, and stomach qi disharmony. Li et al [4] classified insomnia into 6 types: liver stagnation and fire, phlegm-heat disturbing the heart, blood stasis blocking the heart, yin-deficiency and fire deficiency, and qi-blood deficiency. In the case of actual cases, it is mostly due to phlegm, stasis and fire disturbance, and in the case of deficiency, it is mostly due to blood deficiency and yin deficiency; the pathological organs are mostly related to the heart, liver, spleen, kidney, gallbladder and stomach; the disease is always caused by disturbance of the mind. The pathogenesis of the disease is varied and complex, but there are some clinical practitioners who have achieved good results by emphasizing a particular aspect of treatment. For example, Su et al [5] treated 54 cases of insomnia based on the theory of "treatment from the liver", with the treatment principle of pacifying the liver, invigorating blood and tranquilizing the mind, using Chai Hu, Dragon Bone, Oyster, Tian Ma, Hooked Vine, Red Peony, White Peony, Hehuan Pi and Yuan Zhi as the basic formula and adding and subtracting from the evidence, and the total effective rate reached 90.74%. According to Li [6], "treatment from the spleen and stomach" should be emphasized, and the method of strengthening the spleen and stomach, nourishing blood and tranquilizing the mind, together with acupuncture and moxibustion, should be used to treat insomnia. For those with food stagnation and phlegm and disharmony of the stomach and internal organs, warm gall bladder soup with Shen Qu, Hawthorn and Lai Fu Zi is used. For those with deficiency of both heart and spleen, Gui-Spleen Tang is the main treatment. A total of 52 cases were treated, and the total effective rate was 90%. Ni [7] believed that the clinical patients with persistent insomnia often encountered persistent insomnia, and these insomnia patients had clinical manifestations of blood stasis, and applied the Blood Mansions and Stasis Tang with addition and subtraction from stasis in Wang Qingren's Medical Lin Correction of the Qing Dynasty, with a total effective rate of 87.5%. Yang et al [8] summarized the experience of Professor Yan Dexin in the treatment of insomnia, stating that Yan proposed the theory of "insomnia is treated from qi and blood" based on his long-term clinical experience. It is believed that the current insomnia is mainly caused by emotional and mental stimulation, and the course of the disease is protracted. According to its clinical evolution, the pathogenesis is always caused by the imbalance of the internal organs, yin and yang, and the disharmony of qi and blood. The use of famous prescriptions and proprietary Chinese medicines is often used to treat insomnia is divided into the following categories: Guei-Spleen class Han et al [9] used Guei-Spleen Tang with reduction to treat 148 cases of insomnia caused by hormone drugs, with the addition of Chai Hu, Yu Jin, Xiang Shen, and Chuan Zi in cases of liver stagnation and qi stagnation with swelling and pain in the ribs and irritability, and the addition of fried Eucommia, Huai Niu Knee, Shi Cao Ming, and Xia Ku Cao in cases of high blood pressure, Zhi Mu and Huang Lian in cases of deficiency heat, and Job's Tears and Coix Seed in cases of loose stools. The results were 93 cases cured, 51 cases improved, and 4 cases invalid. The total effective rate reached 97.7%. Li's [10] treated 30 cases of insomnia with GUI Spleen Tang plus and minus. If the insomnia is heavy, add Wu Wei Zi and Pai Zi Ren to nourish the heart and tranquilize the mind, or add nightshade, keel, oyster to calm the heart and tranquilize the mind; if the heart is deficient in blood, dizziness and palpitations, and the face is dull, add Shu Di Huang, Bai Shao, and Agaricus to nourish the heart and blood; if the spleen is not healthy, qi deficiency and phlegm obstruction, see the cachexia, dullness, loose stools, and slippery coating, remove Angelica sinensis, add white lentils, coix seeds, made of Semen parsley, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, and Hou Pu. Chen Pi, Fu Ling and Hou Pu to strengthen the spleen, regulate the qi and resolve phlegm, with an efficiency of 90%. Feng's [11] treatment of female menopausal insomnia with the addition of Yi Yao San [11], hot flashes and night sweats with the addition of Di Bone Bark and Shu Di Huang; irritability and impatience with the addition of gardenia, bamboo leaf heart; dizziness and headache with the addition of Manjang Zi and Chrysanthemum; mood changes are obvious, temperamental and unpredictable with the addition of lily of the valley, floating wheat, menstrual bleeding, with the addition of ground elm charcoal, squid bone; palpitations and panic with the addition of Aconite and Dan Shen, curing a total of 11 cases; improvement of a total of 21 cases; ineffective: A total of 3 cases. Zhang's [12] clinical application of Danjiangyunyao san plus reduction for the treatment of persistent insomnia 42 cases, and with the treatment of seven leaves Shenan tablets as a control, the total effective rate of the treatment group is 90.5%, the control group is 66.7%, the two groups compared, P < 0.05, there is a significant difference. And the mean number of days of sleep improvement and days of return to normal in the 2 groups was significantly shorter in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01), suggesting that Danjuania Enyao San has good sedative and hypnotic effects, can be used repeatedly, and has no drug resistance and dependence, and no toxic side effects, which is worthy of further clinical exploration. Warm bile class Liu et al [13] selected warm bile soup to treat 52 cases of insomnia caused by internal disturbance of phlegm and heat. Forty-eight cases were cured, accounting for 92.3%; two cases were effective, accounting for 3.85%, with an overall effective rate of 96.15%. Zhang [14] treated insomnia in the elderly with warm gall bladder soup plus helianthus bark and amber, and the total effective rate reached 92% according to the self-developed efficacy assessment criteria, and the difference in efficacy was significant when compared with alprazolam. Moreover, warm bile soup was effective in improving the patients' blood rheological indices. Shen et al [15] treated 90 cases of intractable insomnia with the addition of warm bile soup, adding mother-of-pearl and vermilion to calm the palpitations and agitation; adding coix seeds and broccoli to calm the stomach and spleen in cases of chest tightness and belching, distention and fullness of the abdomen and bowels, with greasy moss and slippery pulse; adding Baohe pill to calm the mind in cases of belching and acid swallowing and distention and pain in the abdomen, resulting in a total effective rate of 86.7%. They believe that as "Jing Yue Quan Shu? Sleeplessness" quoted Xu Donggao said: "Phlegm and fire disturbance, the heart and mind is restless, thinking too much injury, fire and phlegm depression and cause sleeplessness is more." Therefore, insomnia is located in the heart, but it is closely related to the liver, gall bladder, spleen and stomach, so the treatment is based on the principle of "if the evil goes, the right is safe", starting from phlegm-heat, gall bladder-heat and stomach disharmony, clearing the gall bladder and stomach, drying dampness, resolving phlegm, clearing heat and removing annoyance, so we use warm gall soup. The Blood House and Blood Stasis Class Wang [16] followed the principle of Qing Dynasty. Wang's [16] followed the statement of Wang Qingren's "The evidence of sleeplessness is the stagnation of qi and blood" and treated 38 cases of persistent insomnia with Blood Mansion and Eliminating Blood Stasis Tang, with a cure rate of 55.27% and an overall effective rate of 92.11%. Chen et al [17] also treated 127 cases of premenstrual insomnia with a total effective rate of 97.6%, and concluded that Blood Mansion and Blood Stasis Treatment can invigorate blood stasis, relieve the liver and relieve depression, which can regulate the blood sea and make the soul secure. Sour jujube type Chen et al [18] treated 54 cases of insomnia in tumor patients with the addition of sour jujube soup, and the effective rate was 83.3%. All patients did not show any blood routine abnormalities or impairment of liver and kidney functions. In 80 cases of insomnia treated by Sun's [19] sour jujube soup with added flavor, Fuxia, Tianzhu Huang, and Zhulu were added for those with phlegm and internal stagnation; Hepatica, Yujin, and Fructus; Lingmagnesia, mother-of-pearl, and raw dragon peony were added for those with prolonged and stubborn insomnia. 24 cases were cured, 26 cases showed efficacy, 27 cases were effective, and 3 cases were ineffective, with a total effective rate of 96.25%. From the above, the spleen-returning class is suitable for the type of deficiency of qi and blood and deficiency of heart and spleen; the sour jujube class is suitable for the type of deficiency of yin and blood and internal disturbance of deficiency fire; the prodigality class is suitable for the type of depression of liver qi and disturbance of heart and mind; the warm gall bladder class is mostly used for the type of internal disturbance of phlegm and heat; the blood house and blood stasis class is mostly used for the type of prolonged stasis. In addition to the above categories, there are also reported formulas commonly used to treat various types of insomnia, such as Panicum Paniculata Soup, Baihe Dihuang Tang, Chai Hu plus Dragon Bone Oyster Soup, Huanglian Agaricus Soup, Jiaotai Wan, Liu Wei Dihuang Wan, Gentian Diarrhea Liver Soup, Tian Wang Tonic Heart Dan, Si Wei San, Tao Hong Si Wu Tang, Pig Ling Tang, Bao He Wan, Er Xian Tang, Gan Mai Da Zao Tang and so on. In clinical application, the original formula can be used, or it can be slightly added or subtracted, or multiple prescriptions can be combined according to the evidence. Liu [20] et al. used Zhenzao capsule to treat 66 cases of insomnia in the elderly with yin deficiency and fire, and compared it with the control group of Bai Cao An Shen Tablets, and the total effective rate of the treatment group (92%) was better than that of the control group (72%) (P<0.01), and there was a very significant difference between them. Wang's [21] treated 78 cases of insomnia with Wu Ling capsule, and the efficacy was observed as clinically cured in 52 cases, accounting for 66.7%; significantly effective in 18 cases, accounting for 23.1%; effective in 5 cases, accounting for 6.4%; ineffective in 3 cases, accounting for 3.8%, with a total effective rate of 96.2%. Chen et al [22] treated 40 cases of type 2 diabetic insomnia with nourishing blood and clearing brain particles, and compared with the Valium tablet group, the results: the total efficiency of sleep improvement was 90.9% in the treatment group and 75.8% in the control group, the difference was not significant (P>0.05), the difference was very significant (P<0.01) before and after treatment in the fasting blood sugar treatment group; compared with the control group after treatment The difference was significant (P<0.05) when compared with the control group after treatment. The difference was significant (P<0.05) when compared with the control group after treatment. Third, acupuncture and other therapies Acupuncture therapy for insomnia has the advantages of exact efficacy, long-lasting effect, non-toxic side effects, non-addictive and non-drug dependence. Hou et al [23] randomly divided 190 patients with insomnia into 2 groups: 150 cases in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture (acupoints: Baihe, Sishencong, Neiguan, Shenmen, Annmian, Sanyinjiao, and Taixi); 40 cases in the control group were treated with Shulepian. The results showed that 64 cases in the treatment group were cured, 77 cases were improved, 9 cases were invalid, and the total effective rate was 94%; 18 cases in the control group were improved, 22 cases were invalid, and the total effective rate was 45%. The difference in the total effective rate between the two groups was significant (P<0.05), and the treatment group was better than the control group. Guo et al [24] took Yin Tang and Shenting as the main acupuncture points, and at the same time added electroacupuncture to the two acupuncture points, choosing continuous wave with a frequency of 6 Hz-8 Hz and current intensity to the patient's comfort; those with deficiency of both heart and spleen with Foot San Li and Neiguan; those with internal disturbance of phlegm and heat with Feng Long and Neiting; those with Yin deficiency and fire with Tai Xi and Sanyinjiao; and those with liver stagnation and fire with Feng Chi and Taichong. The results showed that 38 cases were clinically cured, accounting for 35.85%, and the total effective rate was 89.62%. Chen [25] randomly divided 80 patients with deficiency insomnia into two groups: the control group was treated with Shule Valium alone, and the treatment group was treated with acupuncture identification and auricular pressure (main points: Shen Men, Tai Xi, and An Mian. The treatment group was treated with acupuncture and auricular pressure (main acupuncture points: Shenmen, Taixi, Annmian. (Ear acupuncture points were applied to Shen Men, Heart, Spleen, Kidney, Liver, Endocrine, Sympathetic, and Subcortical). Results:The healing rate and total effective rate of the treatment group were 50.0% and 97.5%, respectively; compared with the control group, there was a highly significant difference by Ridit test (P<0.01); there was a significant difference between the two groups in the prolongation of sleep time (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the evidence types of the treatment group (P>0.05). Comprehensive analysis of the clinical treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion mostly adopts the identification of acupuncture points, yin and yang acupuncture points, etc. Commonly used acupuncture points and commonly used combinations include dorsal points (heart, liver, spleen, stomach, gallbladder, etc.), Shen pulse with Zhaohai, and Sanyinjiao with Shenmen; extra-meridian odd points are most often used in Sishencong; the treatment time is best in the afternoon; at the same time, auricular acupressure, plum blossom acupuncture, trigeminal acupuncture, flat acupuncture, tui na, etc. are also very reliable and are mostly used in conjunction with each other. Throughout the literature, there are still some problems in the clinical treatment of insomnia in TCM, such as the lack of a unified typology, the lack of clinical research is still in the primary stage, and there is a lack of multi-level and multi-angle research. If we can find a more scientific theoretical basis for the treatment of insomnia, we will be able to make Chinese medicine better serve the majority of insomnia patients.