LU Jinʹs experience in treating insomnia due to excess in the organs with the acupuncture method of Tongfu Tiaoshen

This paper summarizes Professor LU Jinʹs experience of using the acupuncture method of Tongfu Tiaoshen (unblocking the organs and regulating the spirit) to treat insomnia due to excess in the organs. Professor LU Jin proposes that insomnia caused by organ disorders is rooted in obstruction due to excess in the organs, with the spirit failing to reside in tranquility as the result. Treatment should take unblocking the organs as the root and regulating the spirit as the manifestation. In clinical practice, attention is paid to the combination of tongue inspection and abdominal examination to differentiate organ disorders. During treatment, abdominal acupoints (Zhongwan [CV12], Xiawan [CV10], Qihai [CV6]) are selected to unblock and regulate organ qi, supplemented by pricking tongue points to drain turbidity of the organs; head acupoints (Yintang [GV24⁺], Baihui [GV20], Anmian [Extra]) are used to calm the spirit. According to changes in pathogenesis, back-shu points are skillfully applied to address deficiency patterns. In this way, with needling, turbidity is discharged, the organs are unblocked, qi flows smoothly, and the spirit is settled to obtain sleep.