The treatment of insomnia depends on its underlying cause and the length of its complaint in order to develop pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment plans that are tailored to the needs of each patient. The treatment of insomnia, for many patients, must focus on and emphasize psychotherapy. By explaining and reassuring them that the decrease in sleep is due to normal anxiety or a curable physical illness and does not have any serious consequences. Providing the patient with the opportunity to relieve anxiety often leads to a reduction in distress and also helps to restore their normal sleep. Older adults with normal changes in sleep patterns also need to be explained and reassured, and encouraged to do more physical activity during the day and instructed to relax themselves. Drinking a moderate amount of warm milk before going to sleep sometimes helps some patients to sleep. Medication should vary according to the condition and duration of insomnia classification: (1) In most patients with transient insomnia, the symptoms disappear once the cause of insomnia is removed. In this case, no medication may be necessary, or giving the patient small amounts of rapidly excreted sedative medication for 1 to 2 days may be sufficient. (2) Short-term insomnia patients should be treated psychologically to relieve their tension and improve their individual adaptability; to give patients advice and training on mental relaxation, to guide them to arrange a reasonable sleep regime; to avoid daytime naps, not to drink caffeinated beverages and to take a walk before bedtime may be beneficial. When sedative drugs are needed, the smallest effective dose can be given, and the time should not exceed 3 weeks; or the drug can be given intermittently, such as taking the drug l to 2 nights that sleep very well, the next night can reduce the dosage, or then maintain 1 to 2 days. (3) The etiology of chronic insomnia requires specialized neurological, psychological and psychiatric evaluation. If there is a psychiatric disorder, appropriate treatment must be given accordingly; drug addiction should be detoxified and rehabilitated; analgesics can be given for those caused by pain; nocturnal myoclonus can be relieved by clonazepam or benzodiazepines with similar effects. Drug therapy must be parallel to psychotherapy, regular physical exercise and mental relaxation, and should be carried out as a short-term trial of drug therapy. Sedative drugs are used only as an adjunct to achieve this goal, i.e. to interrupt the vicious cycle of insomnia, to eliminate the fear of insomnia, to eliminate anxiety, and to reduce the more emotional and physical arousal. The specific type and duration of application of sedative medication is recommended after interview with a neurologist specializing in this field.