Theoretical Origins and Treatment Characteristics of Eye Acupuncture for Insomnia due to Heart-Kidney Disharmony from the Perspective of Harmonizing Water and Fire
TENG Fei
CHE Jian
Abstract：Based on the hexagram evolution theory of"Water and Fire in Harmony"(Ji Ji)and"Before Completion"(Wei Ji)from the Book of Changes,the theoretical foundation and diagnostic characteristics of eye acupuncture therapy for treating insomnia due to heart-kidney disharmony can be systematically explained.Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that the Ji Ji hexagram symbolizes the physiological norm of heart-kidney interaction,while the Wei Ji hexagram corresponds to the pathological state of heart-kidney dissociation.The core of this disharmony lies in the abnormal ascending and descending of the true yang in Kan(kidney)and the true yin in Li(heart).The harmonious interaction between the heart and kidney relies on the pivotal transportation and transformation of the spleen and stomach in the middle jiao,as well as the coordinated regulation of the liver and lung.According to the specific mechanisms of imbalance between water and fire,yin and yang,insomnia due to heart-kidney disharmony can be systematically categorized into the following four patterns:dysregulation between the supremacy and ministerial fire,with floating fire and cold water;deficiency of heart and kidney yang,leading to disorientation of the spirit;deficiency of water and excess of fire,failing to restrain upward disturbance;exhaustion of fundamental vitality,resulting in floating deficiency yang.Eye acupuncture therapy,centered on the principle of"Harmonizing Kan and Li",primarily selects the heart-small intestine area corresponding to the Li hexagram and the kidney-bladder area corresponding to the Kan hexagram within the Later Heaven Eight Trigrams division.By stimulating the true yang in Kan and nourishing the true yin in Li,it promotes the transformation from"Wei Ji"to"Ji Ji".Additionally,flexible combinations with areas such as the spleen-stomach,liver-gallbladder,and lung-large intestine are employed to strengthen the pivotal function,regulate qi movement,and unblock pathways.This restores the dynamic balance of water,fire,yin,and yang between the heart and kidney,ultimately achieving the therapeutic goal of"harmonizing water and fire,calming the spirit to restore peaceful sleep".
Keywords：eye acupuncture therapyJi Ji hexagramWei Ji hexagramheart-kidney disharmonyinsomnia
Publication Date：2026-03-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-07-17(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 21-25 )