Abstract：Traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM） posits that the coordinated interaction between the yin and yang of the heart and kidney is the fundamental mechanism underlying normal sleep-wake rhythm regulation，operating under the dynamic equilibrium principle of "yang as the master，yin as the follower." When the ministerial fire of the life gate declines and becomes deficient，it impairs yang qi's steaming and transforming functions，leading to water metabolism disorders，internal retention of water-fluid，and phlegm-turbidity stagnation. These pathological products obstruct the pivotal pathway of the Shaoyin meridian，impeding the ascent，descent，exit，and entry of qi movement between the heart and kidney，consequently triggering insomnia. Alternatively，when both yin and yang are damaged，deficiency fire flares up and disturbs the heart spirit， thereby also causing insomnia. For treating insomnia due to heart-kidney interaction disorder of the ministerial fire decline of life gate type， the fundamental therapeutic principle should be warming and supplementing the yang qi of the life gate to tranquilize the spirit. This should be combined with adjunctive therapies such as dispelling water-fluid，resolving phlegm-fire，and conducting fire back to its source. By restoring the ascending-descending and harmonious interaction of heart-kidney yin and yang，the normalization of the sleep rhythm can ultimately be achieved.