Objective : The purpose of this study was to report the improvement in two patients with different complaints of sleep disorder treated with herbal medication based on the Shanghanlun disease pattern identification diagnostic system (DPIDS), and hypothesize the meaning of word ‘更’.

Methods : According to DPIDS, patients were diagnosed with Taeyang-byung no. 29 provision, and took Gamchogungang-tang herb medication 15 or 90days. The results of administration were evaluated by the hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HDSS) and the visual analog scale (VAS).

Results : After administration of Gamchogungang-tang 15 or 90days, based on 29 provision of Gamchogungang-tang diagnosed according to Shanghanlun provisions, in one case the HDSS decreased from 3 to 1 and the VAS decreased from 10 to 1. In the other case, the VAS decreased from 10 to 1.

Conclusions : Each patient not only recovered from symptoms of hyperhidrosis and alopecia areata, but also from sleep disorders following administration of a single medication of Gamchogungang-tang. This case report suggests that the word ‘更’ in the 29 provisions of Shanghanlun means sleep disorder in this case.

KeyWords : Sleep disorder, Hyperhidrosis, Alopecia areata, Gamchogungang-tang(甘草乾薑湯), Shanghanlun