bubble_chart Concept

Dreamfulness refers to the symptom of experiencing numerous and often terrifying dreams during sleep, leading to dizziness and mental fatigue upon waking. Normal individuals may occasionally have dreams without any discomfort upon waking, which should not be a concern and is not within the scope of this discussion.

This condition is referred to as "delusional dreams" in Suwen.Fangshengshuai Lun, and as "joyful dreams" in Lingshu.Yinxie Fameng. It is later termed "dreamfulness"

. "Nightmares" refer to bad dreams, as mentioned in Zabing Yuanliu Xizhu: "Due to a troubled heart, one dreams of frightening and strange things and experiences nightmares." "Sleep talking" refers to talking in one's sleep. "Sleepwalking" is also known as "night wandering" or "dream walking." "Dream fright" refers to waking up suddenly due to fear or terror in a dream. All the above conditions occur during sleep and share similar disease causes and mechanisms, hence they are discussed together in this section.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Deficiency of Both Heart and Spleen︰insomnia dreamfulness, complexion pale, palpitation severe palpitation, forgetfulness when encountering events, reduced food intake, abdominal distension and fullness loose stool, shortage of qi lazy speech, fatigue and weakness, tongue texture pale, pulse soggy and thin. This syndrome is often caused by dysfunction of spleen in transportation, generation and transformation without source, deficiency of qi and blood, and loss of support for the heart-mind, hence insomnia dreamfulness, accompanied by anorexia loose stool, epigastric abdominal distension and fullness, body fatigue lack of strength, shortness of breath lazy speech. Treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen and nourishing the heart, using Returning to Spleen Decoction with modifications.
2. Non-interaction between Heart and Kidney︰Dysphoria and insomnia, with dreamfulness during sleep, irritability and palpitations, soreness in the waist and weak knees, tidal fever and night sweats, a red tongue without coating, and a thready rapid pulse. This is often caused by overexertion injuring the heart and kidneys, leading to the heart fire failing to descend to communicate with kidney water, and kidney water failing to ascend to nourish the heart, resulting in deficiency of water and excess of fire. The spirit becomes unsettled, hence the dreamfulness. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and reducing fire, restoring coordination between the heart and kidney. The recommended formula is Coptis and Ass Hide Glue Decoction.
3. Heart-Gallbladder Qi Deficiency︰Nightmares and fright, easily startled and awakened, mental confusion, emotional restlessness, easily frightened by events, palpitation or severe palpitation, pale tongue, and weak thready pulse. This is due to constitutional weakness, deficiency and timidity of the heart and gallbladder, or sudden fright, emotional tension, which impair the heart and gallbladder, leading to mental restlessness and dreamfulness. As stated in *Shen's Treatise on Life Preservation*: "Deficiency and timidity of both the heart and gallbladder make one easily startled by events and prone to ominous dreams." Treatment should focus on tonifying qi and calming fright, tranquilizing the spirit and stabilizing the mind. The recommended formulas are Spirit-Tranquillizing Mind-Stabilizing Pill or Sour Jujube Decoction with modifications.
4. Internal Disturbance of Phlegm-fire︰Disturbed dreams, dizziness, palpitation, irritability and susceptibility to anger, excessive phlegm, chest tightness, red tongue texture, yellow and greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse. This belongs to an excess pattern, often caused by melancholy and anger, leading to liver qi stagnation transforming into fire, which scorches body fluids and condenses them into phlegm. The phlegm-fire disturbs the mind, resulting in chaotic dreams, along with symptoms such as irritability and susceptibility to anger, chest tightness, excessive phlegm, red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, and slippery and rapid pulse. Treatment should focus on {|###|}clearing heat and resolving phlegm{|###|}, using Coptis Rhizome Gallbladder-Warming Decoction with modifications.

The condition of dreamfulness, although categorized into deficiency and excess, is more often characterized by deficiency than excess. Deficiencies in qi and blood, as well as insufficient yin fluids, frequently manifest this condition, which should be given due attention during diagnosis.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Lingshu．Yinxie Fameng Chapter: "Exuberance of liver qi leads to dreams of anger. Exuberance of lung qi leads to dreams of fear, crying, and flying. Exuberance of heart qi leads to dreams of laughter and fear. Exuberance of spleen qi leads to dreams of singing, joy, and heaviness of the body. Excess of kidney qi leads to dreams of the waist and spine being separated. For all these twelve excesses, when they occur, purging them will bring immediate relief."
2. Zabing Yuanliu Xizhu．"The Origin and Flow of Miscellaneous Diseases: Insomnia and Excessive Sleep": "When the physical body interacts, it engages in activities; when the spirit encounters, it dreams. When the spirit is enslaved by external things, the soul becomes unsettled, and when the soul is unsettled, it flies and acts recklessly, leading to dreamfulness upon closing the eyes. Moreover, when disturbed by the seven emotions and affected by the six excesses, the heart qi becomes deficient and responds accordingly. As the saying goes, what one encounters during the day, one dreams of at night, and this is indeed true."