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These classical TCM mental-emotional conditions represent specific diagnostic patterns that go beyond modern psychiatric categories. They highlight the complex interaction between emotions, organs, and the Shen, the importance of subtle internal movement of Qi and Blood in mental health and the deep integration of spirit, emotion, and physical function in the human experience.
 

TCM Psychiatry / Mental-Emotional Health offers a holistic and individualized approach to emotional wellness by understanding the Shen as rooted in the Heart, yet influenced by all Zang-Fu organs, treating emotional and psychological issues through pattern differentiation, not diagnostic labels alone and supporting mental health with acupuncture, herbal medicine, lifestyle changes, and mind-body practices. This model allows for the treatment of both acute emotional distress and chronic mental health conditions, with a strong focus on restoring internal balance and reconnecting the individual to their vitality and purpose.

  • Easily startled, anxious, fearful

  • Often involves Kidney deficiency (esp. Essence or Yin), and Heart-Kidney disharmony.

  • Common in PTSD, panic disorders

Susceptibility to Fear and Fright

善恐, Shàn kǒng / 善惊, Shàn jīng

  • Inner restlessness, inability to find peace.

  • May reflect Heat disturbing the Heart (Heart Fire), or Yin deficiency with Empty Heat

  • Often seen in insomnia, menopause, trauma

Vexation and Agitation

烦躁
Fán zào

  • Inappropriate or excessive laughter or joy

  • Reflects Heart Shen being overstimulated by internal Fire or Yin deficiency.

  • Can resemble mania or hypomania

Frequent Joy

喜多
Xǐ duō

  • Excess worry and overthinking harming Spleen and Heart

  • Spleen Qi becomes weak → poor concentration, appetite loss, fatigue.

  • Heart Blood becomes deficient → insomnia, palpitations, poor memory

Anxiety and Excessive Thinking

善忧思
Shàn yōu sī

  • TCM sees sleep disturbances as the Shén being unanchored.

  • Patterns include Heart Blood or Yin deficiency, Heart-Fire, or Phlegm-Fire disturbing the Shen

Insomnia and Sleep Disorders

  • Mania: often due to Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart or Liver Fire rising

  • Depression: often due to Qi or Blood deficiency, or Phlegm-Damp obstructing the Shen

Bipolar Disorder (Mania and Depression)

  • Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, timidity.

  • Often caused by Heart Qi or Yin deficiency, Heart-Kidney disharmony, Liver Qi stagnation, or Phlegm disturbing the Heart

Anxiety Disorders

  • Characterized by Liver Qi stagnation, Heart Blood deficiency, Spleen Qi deficiency, or Phlegm-Damp obstruction.

  • May involve sadness, apathy, fatigue, hopelessness, poor sleep, and digestive disturbance

Depression

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Psychiatry

Psychiatry / Mental-Emotional Health (中医神志病, shén zhì bìng) is a specialized field that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the mind, emotions, and spirit (Shén 神). This branch is deeply rooted in classical Chinese medical theory, where emotions are both a cause and reflection of internal disharmony, and mental health is inseparable from the function of the Zang-Fu organs, Qi, Blood, and Essence (Jing). TCM psychiatry can address a wide spectrum of emotional, psychological, and behavioural conditions, including:

  • Seen as severe Shen disturbance, often due to Phlegm misting the Heart, Fire with Yin deficiency, or Essence exhaustion.

  • Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or behaviour

Schizophrenia / Psychosis

Often rooted in Spleen Qi deficiency with Phlegm, Liver Qi stagnation, and Shen-Yi disconnection

OCD / Intrusive Thought Disorders

  • Shock damages the Heart and Kidney, scattering the Shén.

  • Presents as fear, nightmares, disassociation, panic, palpitations

PTSD and Emotional Trauma

  • Prolonged grief affects the Lungs, and may weaken Heart Qi

  • Leads to withdrawal, melancholy, and respiratory weakness

Grief, Sadness, and Emotional Blockages

Often due to Heart and Kidney disharmony, Liver Wind, or Phlegm-Heat obstructing Shen

ADHD (in children and adults)

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Classical TCM Mental-Emotional Conditions

TCM Psychiatry (中医神志病学) describes a variety of distinct emotional and mental conditions that are unique to its theoretical framework. These conditions reflect specific Shén (神) disturbances and are understood as imbalances between Zang-Fu organs, Qi, Blood, Yin-Yang, and Emotions. Some of these conditions have no exact Western equivalents, while others describe patterns that overlap with modern psychiatric diagnoses but are interpreted and treated through pattern differentiation (辨证论治). Classical TCM Mental-Emotional conditions include:

  • Diān (Withdrawal): depressive-type condition → withdrawal, muteness, delusions, staring, loss of interest

  • Kuáng (Mania): manic-type condition → shouting, excessive talking, aggression, disinhibition

  • Cause: Phlegm-Fire disturbing Heart, Yin deficiency with Fire, Liver Fire rising

Withdrawal and Mania

癫, Diān and 狂, Kuáng

  • Easily triggered anger or frustration

  • Often due to Liver Qi stagnation, or Liver Fire

  • Seen in PMS, perimenopause, digestive imbalance, or stress

Irritability

易怒
Yì nù

  • Incoherent or irrational speech, disconnected from reality.

  • Indicates Phlegm-Fire harassing the Shen, or severe Heart orifices obstruction.

  • Seen in psychosis, extreme manic states

Deranged Speech

言语错乱
Yán yǔ cuò luàn

  • Dull affect, lack of responsiveness, cognitive sluggishness

  • Often a result of Kidney Jing deficiency, or Phlegm obstructing the Heart.

  • Common in developmental disorders, dementia-like conditions

Feeblemindedness

神呆
Shén dāi

  • Forgetfulness due to Heart Blood deficiency, Spleen Qi deficiency, or Kidney Jing depletion

  • TCM links memory with the Heart (short-term) and Kidneys (long-term)

Impaired Memory

健忘
Jiàn wàng

  • Restless sleep with vivid or disturbing dreams

  • Related to Liver Qi stagnation, Heart-Yin deficiency, or Heat disturbing the Shen

Profuse Dreams

多梦
Duō mèng

  • Sleep paralysis, nightmares, a sense of being attacked by unseen forces.

  • TCM may interpret as Phlegm, Cold, or Wind invading the Shen, or disruption of Hun.

  • Treated with calming the Shen, transforming Phlegm, or resolving spiritual trauma

Oppressive Ghost Dreams

鬼压身
Guǐ yā shēn

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

  • Caused by Heart Blood/Yin deficiency, Liver Fire, or Phlegm-Heat disturbing Shen

Insomnia

失眠
Shī mián

  • Shallow sleep, waking easily or frequently.

  • Common in Yin and Blood deficiency, or Heart-Kidney disharmony

Easily Being Awakened

易醒
Yì xǐng

  • Excessive sleepiness, lack of mental clarity

  • Related to Phlegm-Damp obstructing the Mind, Spleen Qi deficiency, or collapse of Yang

Somnolence

嗜睡
Shì shuì

  • Sudden spasms, loss of consciousness

  • In children: often from Phlegm-Heat, high fever

  • In adults: may be linked to Liver Wind, Yang rising, or Blood deficiency failing to nourish sinews

Convulsions

惊厥
Jīng jué

  • Periodic seizures with aura, convulsions, and recovery

  • TCM views as Wind-Phlegm obstructing the Heart and Liver channels, or Essence deficiency

Epilepsy

癫痫
Diān xián

  • Sensation of a lump in the throat with no physical obstruction

  • Caused by Liver Qi stagnation with Phlegm.

  • Emotional repression is central (seen in anxiety, hysteria)

Plum Pit Qi

梅核气
Méihé qì

  • Internal organ-induced emotional restlessness

  • Classical syndrome of internal deficiency with agitation, often postpartum or with chronic disease

  • Involves Heart-Blood deficiency, Liver stagnation, Yin deficiency

Visceral Agitation

藏躁
Zàng zào

  • Sudden uprising of Qi from lower abdomen to chest and throat

  • Associated with Kidney-Yin deficiency, Liver-Fire, emotional repression.

  • Panic-like episodes with heat, palpitations, chest tightness

Running Piglet Qi

奔豚气
Bēn tún qì

  • A TCM diagnostic category described in Jin Gui Yao Lue

  • Syndrome of emotional emptiness, restlessness, insomnia, vague dissatisfaction, alternating Cold/Heat sensations, aversion to food

  • Often due to Heat damaging Yin with underlying emotional trauma or inner conflict

Lily Disease

百合病
Bǎi hé bìng

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