Abstract：Insomnia belongs to the category of “inability to sleep” in Chinese medicine，with a long course of disease and is easy to relapse. Its attack and periodic characteristic are related to the disharmony between the transportation of yin，yang，qi and blood and the circulation of five circuits and six qi in the Heaven and Earth. In the application of the theory of five circuits six qi，the etiology and pathogenesis of insomnia are analyzed based on syndrome differentiation and treatment. In terms of medicine prescribed，it is combined with the circulation and transmutation of five circuits and six qi，and based on the generation， restriction， over- restriction and counter- restriction cycles of the five elements. Through the selection of medicine's natures and flavors，more suitable medicinal combination can be prescribed for patients to ensure the function of zang-fu organs in transporting the essence of food and water. This reflects the holistic concept of Chinese medicine and the basic characteristics of syndrome differentiation and treatment，which enriches the ideas and scheme of clinical diagnosis and treatment for insomnia.