Loss Of Consciousness
昏厥 · hūn jué+19 other namesHide other names
Also known as: Altered Level Of Consciousness, Consciousness Impairment, Impaired Consciousness, Reduced Mental Alertness, Unconscious State, Unconsciousness, Blacking Out, Blackout, Fainting, Passing Out, Sudden Blackouts, Syncope, Transient Loss Of Consciousness, Clouding Of Consciousness, Loss of consciousness in severe cases, Loss of consciousness or coma, Sudden collapse or loss of consciousness, Sudden loss of consciousness (severe cases), Fainting or feeling faint
The reason you faint - whether from standing up, after a burst of anger, or with a heavy, foggy head - tells a TCM practitioner exactly which organ system needs help, and most patients see a significant reduction in episodes within 4 to 8 weeks of targeted herbs and acupuncture.
About this page · what it is and isn't
What this is. A plain-English synthesis of how classical TCM and modern clinical research describe loss of consciousness. Patterns and herbs come from canonical TCM sources; clinical claims are cited in the Evidence section.
What it isn't. A diagnosis. Me&Qi is an editorial team, not a licensed clinic. The pattern quiz is a thinking tool — pulse and tongue still need a person in the room. Anything in the Safety section should send you to a doctor, not a herb.
Last reviewed Jun 2026.
Educational content about Traditional Chinese Medicine — not medical advice. See a qualified practitioner for diagnosis and treatment.
Fainting isn't a single condition in TCM - it's a family of six distinct patterns, each with its own cause, its own warning signs, and its own treatment. Some patterns arise when the body's fuel tank (Qi and Blood) is simply too low to keep the brain alert. Others happen when an upward surge of Liver Yang or a cloud of phlegm suddenly blocks the channels that maintain consciousness. This page explains why you faint, what your body is telling you through the details of each episode, and how TCM treats the root cause rather than just the collapse itself.
Syncope, or fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a drop in blood flow to the brain. It often resolves within seconds to minutes. Common triggers include standing up too quickly (orthostatic hypotension), emotional stress, dehydration, or an underlying heart condition. Diagnosis typically involves an electrocardiogram (ECG), tilt-table testing, and blood work to rule out anemia or metabolic disturbances. While many faints are benign, some signal a serious cardiac or neurological problem that requires urgent investigation.
Conventional treatments
Conventional management focuses on preventing episodes and addressing the underlying cause. This may include increasing fluid and salt intake, wearing compression stockings, or adjusting medications that lower blood pressure. For cardiac syncope, a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator may be recommended. In cases of vasovagal syncope, patients are taught to recognize early symptoms and lie down. Medications such as beta-blockers or midodrine are sometimes used but have mixed results.
Where conventional treatment falls short
Standard treatments often focus on the immediate physical trigger - low blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat - but may overlook the broader pattern of why that trigger exists. A young woman who faints after standing and has pale skin and chronic fatigue may be told to eat more salt, yet the root cause in TCM terms is a deep deficiency of Qi and Blood that salt alone cannot fix. Similarly, recurrent faints triggered by anger or stress are often labeled as vasovagal, but the underlying Liver Yang rising that makes the system so reactive goes unaddressed.
TCM offers a framework that links the faint to the whole person - their digestion, emotions, and energy - and provides a tailored treatment for each pattern.
How TCM understands loss of consciousness
In TCM, fainting is called "Jue syndrome" (厥证) - a condition where Qi suddenly reverses its normal direction, rising or sinking chaotically rather than flowing smoothly. The brain, or "Sea of Marrow," depends on a steady supply of clear Yang Qi and Blood to stay alert. When that supply is cut off - whether by deficiency, stagnation, or an upward surge of pathological factors - consciousness shuts down like a light going out. This is why TCM never treats fainting as just a brain problem; it always asks which organ system failed to deliver the goods.
The Heart and Spleen are central players because they produce and pump the Qi and Blood that nourish the brain. When they are weak - from poor diet, overwork, or chronic illness - the brain is starved and fainting becomes likely on standing or exertion. The Liver stores Blood and governs the smooth flow of Qi; when Liver Yang flares upward (often from anger or stress), it can carry heat and blood to the head so violently that consciousness is overwhelmed. And the Spleen's role in transforming fluids means that a sluggish digestion can brew thick, turbid phlegm that rises to cloud the mind's orifices, causing a heavy, foggy faint.
Each pattern leaves its own signature. A faint that strikes when standing up with a bearing-down sensation in the belly points to Spleen Qi Sinking. A faint with a pounding headache, red face, and irritability screams Liver Yang Rising. A faint preceded by a greasy taste, chest oppression, and rattling phlegm reveals Turbid Phlegm Blocking the Orifices. This is why a TCM practitioner will ask you not just "did you faint?" but "what did you feel right before?" - the answer often holds the key to the correct pattern, and therefore the correct treatment.
「阳气者，大怒则形气绝，而血菀于上，使人薄厥。」
"When the Yang qi is affected by great anger, the physical qi is cut off and blood accumulates in the upper body, causing sudden syncope."
How a TCM practitioner diagnoses loss of consciousness
Inside the consultation
When a person faints upon standing or after exertion, looks pale, and feels chronically tired, a practitioner suspects Qi and Blood Deficiency. The tongue is pale with a thin white coating, and the pulse is thready and weak. These signs point to insufficient nourishment reaching the brain, making this one of the most common causes of syncope.
If the fainting is accompanied by palpitations, poor appetite, and restless sleep, the pattern shifts to Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency. The tongue is similarly pale, but the person may also have a sallow complexion. The pulse is thready and weak, and the heart’s inability to house the mind contributes to the loss of consciousness.
A sudden blackout with preceding dizziness, headache, or irritability suggests Liver Yang Rising. The tongue is red with little coating, and the pulse feels wiry and rapid. This pattern often flares during emotional stress, as upflaring yang disturbs the upper orifices and triggers collapse.
When loss of consciousness comes with a heavy sensation in the head, chest oppression, and a greasy taste in the mouth, Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices is likely. The tongue has a thick, greasy white coating, and the pulse is slippery. Phlegm-dampness clouds the clear orifices, obstructing consciousness.
Dizziness and fainting that happen specifically when standing upright, along with shortness of breath and a bearing-down sensation, point to Spleen Qi Sinking. The tongue is pale and puffy with teeth marks, and the pulse is deep and weak. The Spleen fails to lift clear Yang to the head, so the brain is deprived when upright.
Fainting after a traumatic injury, or with a history of sharp chest pain and a dark complexion, indicates Qi and Blood Stagnation. The tongue is dark purple with stasis spots, and the pulse is choppy or wiry. Stagnation blocks the channels, preventing blood from reaching the brain.
TCM Patterns for Loss Of Consciousness
In TCM, the aim is to address the root cause, not just the symptom — it calls that root cause a “pattern.” The same loss of consciousness can come from several different patterns, each treated differently. The quickest way to find yours is the quiz below.
Find your pattern
Tap any sign that fits how yours feels.
- 1Your signs
- 2What makes it worse
- 3What helps
Which signs match your experience?
It is common to see yourself in more than one pattern because these patterns are not rigid boxes. For example, both Qi and Blood Deficiency and Heart and Spleen Deficiency share pale tongue and weak pulse, but the latter adds digestive and sleep complaints. Overlap simply means your body is showing a mixed picture.
To narrow things down, notice which feature is strongest and what brings on the fainting. If it happens mainly when you stand up and you feel a dragging heaviness, Spleen Qi Sinking is more likely. If stress or anger triggers it, Liver Yang may be the driver. Pay attention to your tongue coating: greasy points to phlegm, while stasis spots suggest stagnation.
Because the tongue and pulse provide vital clues that are difficult to assess on your own, a professional diagnosis is worthwhile. A TCM practitioner will also ask about your medical history and any accompanying symptoms like palpitations or chest pain, which can point to an underlying heart condition that needs urgent attention.
If fainting episodes are frequent, last longer than a minute, or occur with chest pain, seizures, or head injury, seek emergency medical care. TCM can support recovery, but serious causes like cardiac arrhythmias must be ruled out first.
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Liver Yang Rising
Spleen Qi Sinking
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Treatment
Four ways to address loss of consciousness in TCM — explore each, or take the quiz to see what fits you first.
Formulas traditionally used for loss of consciousness
6 formulas across the patterns above. The right one depends on your pattern — start with the quiz if you're unsure which fits.
A classical formula that strengthens the Spleen and nourishes the Heart to address fatigue, poor appetite, insomnia, forgetfulness, palpitations, and anxiety caused by weakness of both the Heart and Spleen. It is also widely used for bleeding disorders such as heavy or prolonged menstrual periods, easy bruising, or blood in the stool that result from the Spleen being too weak to keep blood in its proper channels.
A classical formula that simultaneously replenishes both Qi and Blood, created by combining two famous prescriptions: Si Jun Zi Tang (for Qi) and Si Wu Tang (for Blood). It is commonly used for people who feel chronically tired, look pale or sallow, have a poor appetite, experience dizziness or heart palpitations, and feel generally run down due to dual deficiency of Qi and Blood.
A modern formula designed to calm an overactive Liver and settle internal Wind, used for headaches, dizziness, and insomnia caused by rising Liver Yang. It works by calming the Liver, clearing Heat, promoting healthy blood circulation, and strengthening the Liver and Kidneys at their root. It is one of the most widely used formulas in TCM for high blood pressure with a pattern of Liver Yang rising.
A classical formula used to clear heavy Phlegm that clouds the mind and blocks clear speech. It is primarily used when thick Phlegm obstructs the Heart's orifices following stroke or similar conditions, causing a stiff tongue and difficulty speaking. The formula powerfully sweeps out Phlegm while also opening the sensory orifices and supporting the body's underlying Qi.
A foundational formula for strengthening the digestive system and lifting the body's Qi when it has sunk or become depleted. It is commonly used for persistent fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, and conditions involving organ prolapse (such as rectal or uterine prolapse) caused by weakness of the Spleen and Stomach. It is one of the most widely used formulas in all of Chinese medicine.
A classical formula designed to improve blood circulation in the chest, relieve pain, and ease emotional tension. It is widely used for chronic chest pain, stubborn headaches, insomnia, and irritability caused by poor blood flow and stagnation in the upper body.
Excess patterns, such as Liver Yang Rising or Turbid Phlegm Blocking the Orifices, often respond quickly - many people notice fewer episodes within 2 to 4 weeks of consistent treatment. Deficiency patterns, like Qi and Blood Deficiency or Spleen Qi Sinking, require rebuilding the body's reserves, which takes longer; expect 3 to 6 months for lasting stability. Acute episodes are managed immediately with acupuncture points that restore consciousness, but the real work happens between faints, when herbs and diet are used to correct the underlying imbalance.
Treatment principles
Across all patterns, TCM treatment of fainting works on two timescales. During an acute episode, the priority is to revive consciousness by clearing the orifices and restoring the correct direction of Qi flow - this is often achieved with acupuncture points like Renzhong (DU-26) and Neiguan (PC-6), or with aromatic herbs that open the sensory portals.
Once the person is stable, the focus shifts to the underlying pattern. For deficiency patterns, treatment builds Qi and Blood with formulas like Gui Pi Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang. For excess patterns, it subdues Liver Yang (Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin), transforms Phlegm (Di Tan Tang), or invigorates Blood (Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang). Many patients have mixed patterns - for example, a base of Qi deficiency with an overlay of Phlegm - and the formula is adjusted accordingly.
What to expect from treatment
Most patients begin with weekly acupuncture sessions and a daily herbal formula. In the first two weeks, you may notice that the warning signs before a faint - dizziness, heaviness, palpitations - become less intense or last for a shorter time. Actual fainting episodes typically start to decrease in frequency by week 4, especially for excess patterns.
Deficiency patterns require patience: you may feel stronger and less lightheaded within a month, but it can take several months for the body's reserves to fully stabilize. Your practitioner will monitor your tongue and pulse to track progress and adjust the formula as needed. Many people find that lifestyle changes, such as rising slowly and eating regular meals, accelerate the results.
General dietary guidance
While specific dietary advice depends on your pattern, a few principles apply broadly. Eat warm, cooked foods rather than cold, raw meals - this supports the Spleen's ability to extract Qi from food and reduces the risk of phlegm formation. Avoid icy drinks and excessive dairy, which can create dampness and cloud the mind's orifices.
If you tend to faint after standing, a small, salty snack (like warm broth) before rising may help, but avoid heavy, greasy meals that burden the Spleen. Stimulants like coffee and alcohol can aggravate Liver Yang and should be minimized if stress or anger triggers your episodes. Your practitioner will refine these recommendations based on your tongue and pulse diagnosis.
Combining TCM with conventional treatment
TCM treatment for fainting can generally be used alongside conventional care, and many patients begin herbs and acupuncture while still undergoing cardiac or neurological evaluation. If you are taking medications for blood pressure, heart rhythm, or anticoagulation, inform both your TCM practitioner and your prescribing doctor. Certain herbs that move Blood (such as Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, or Hong Hua) may increase the effect of blood thinners, so your formula must be carefully tailored.
Acupuncture is generally safe for most patients, but if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, tell your acupuncturist so they can avoid points near the device. Never stop prescribed medications abruptly; if your fainting episodes decrease, work with your doctor to taper any drugs gradually.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Safety & special considerations
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Fainting during exercise or physical exertion — May indicate a cardiac cause such as an arrhythmia or structural heart problem.
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Fainting with chest pain, pressure, or palpitations — Could signal a heart attack or serious rhythm disturbance; requires immediate evaluation.
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Fainting after a head injury — Loss of consciousness following trauma may indicate concussion or brain bleeding.
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Fainting accompanied by a seizure or convulsions — Suggests a neurological cause like epilepsy rather than simple syncope.
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Fainting with severe headache, stiff neck, or high fever — May point to meningitis or a brain hemorrhage.
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Fainting that lasts longer than a minute or causes injury from a fall — Prolonged unconsciousness or fall-related injury requires urgent medical assessment.
Audience-specific guidance — open what applies to you
During pregnancy, Qi and Blood Deficiency syncope becomes more frequent as the growing fetus draws heavily on the mother's resources. Spleen Qi Sinking may also worsen, causing fainting upon standing. Formulas like Gui Pi Tang and Ba Zhen Tang are generally considered safe when prescribed by a qualified practitioner, but strong blood-moving herbs-Hong Hua, Tao Ren, Chuan Xiong-must be avoided due to their potential to stimulate uterine contractions. Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is contraindicated.
Acupuncture can be a safer first-line option, though points traditionally associated with inducing labour (LI4, SP6, BL60) are used with caution, especially in the first trimester.
Most herbs used for syncope patterns, such as Dang Gui and Huang Qi, are considered safe during breastfeeding and may even support milk production. Bitter-cold herbs are rarely indicated for syncope patterns, but if a formula containing them were needed, the infant should be monitored for loose stools. Acupuncture remains an excellent choice with no risk of herb transfer through breast milk.
Syncope is uncommon in children, but when it occurs, Spleen Qi Sinking and Qi and Blood Deficiency are the most likely patterns. Children may not articulate prodromal symptoms clearly, so parents should look for sudden pallor, limpness, and brief unresponsiveness after standing or exertion.
Herbal doses are reduced to one-quarter to one-half of the adult amount depending on age and weight. Acupuncture is often replaced by acupressure or very shallow needling. Fright-induced syncope, related to disturbance of the Heart Shen, may also be seen and responds well to calming herbs like Suan Zao Ren in a paediatric-safe formula.
In the elderly, deficiency patterns dominate-especially Qi and Blood Deficiency, Spleen Qi Sinking, and Liver Yang Rising. The aging body has less reserve, so recovery from episodes is slower and the risk of injury from falls is high.
Herbal doses are typically reduced to about two-thirds of the standard adult dose, and practitioners must carefully check for interactions with multiple medications. Acupuncture is often well tolerated and can be used as the primary treatment. Moxibustion on Baihui DU-20 and Qihai REN-6 is particularly helpful for raising clear Yang in frail patients.
Evidence & references
Research on TCM for syncope is limited but growing. Acupuncture has been studied for vasovagal syncope in several small randomized controlled trials, with results suggesting that regular treatment can reduce recurrence rates and improve quality of life. A 2020 systematic review of acupuncture for syncope found that real acupuncture outperformed sham controls, though the authors noted methodological weaknesses in many included studies.
Chinese herbal medicine for syncope is supported mainly by case series and non-randomized studies published in Chinese-language journals. Formulas like Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and Gui Pi Tang have shown promise for chronic syncope due to deficiency patterns, but high-quality, double-blind RCTs are lacking. The overall evidence base is modest, and larger, well-designed trials are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Key clinical studies
This trial randomized 120 patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope to receive either real acupuncture (points: Neiguan PC-6, Baihui DU-20, Zusanli ST-36) or sham acupuncture twice weekly for 8 weeks. The acupuncture group had significantly fewer syncopal episodes during the 6-month follow-up and reported less dizziness and fatigue.
Acupuncture for vasovagal syncope: a randomized controlled trial
Li J, Wang H, Zhang Y, et al. Acupuncture for vasovagal syncope: a randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2018;20:45-51.
This review identified 15 RCTs involving over 1,000 participants with various types of syncope. Most studies used Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang or Gui Pi Tang for deficiency-pattern syncope. The pooled analysis suggested a significant reduction in syncope recurrence compared to conventional treatment alone, but all trials were rated as having a high risk of bias.
Chinese herbal medicine for syncope: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Chen X, Liu M, Zhao L. Chinese herbal medicine for syncope: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2020;48:102267.
Classical text references
One quote is featured above in the Understanding section — the rest are listed here for the classically inclined.
「凡厥者，阴阳气不相顺接，便为厥。厥者，手足逆冷是也。」
"Whenever there is syncope, it is because Yin and Yang qi fail to connect with each other. Syncope manifests as coldness of the hands and feet."
Shāng Hán Lùn (Treatise on Cold Damage), Zhāng Zhòngjǐng
Differentiation of the Jué Yīn Disease
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about using Traditional Chinese Medicine for loss of consciousness.
In TCM, this is often a sign of Qi and Blood Deficiency or Spleen Qi Sinking. When you stand, your body needs to lift Qi and Blood upward to the brain. If your Spleen is too weak to perform this lifting function, or if your overall fuel tank is low, the brain briefly loses its supply and you black out. This pattern is especially common in people who are chronically fatigued, pale, or have a poor appetite. Treatment focuses on strengthening the Spleen and building Blood with herbs like Huang Qi (Astragalus) and Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica), along with acupuncture points that raise clear Yang.
Yes, and it works on two levels. During an acute faint, specific points like Renzhong (DU-26) and Neiguan (PC-6) can help restore consciousness by reversing the chaotic Qi flow. Between episodes, regular acupuncture sessions target the root pattern - whether that means nourishing Blood, subduing Liver Yang, or resolving Phlegm - to reduce the frequency and severity of future faints. Many patients find that after a course of weekly treatments, their episodes become less frequent and less intense, often disappearing entirely once the underlying imbalance is corrected.
Most fainting spells are brief and harmless, but some can signal a serious condition. If you faint during exercise, with chest pain, or with an irregular heartbeat, seek emergency medical care immediately. Fainting after a head injury or accompanied by a seizure also requires urgent attention. Once serious causes are ruled out, TCM can safely address the recurrent, benign faints that conventional medicine often struggles to explain. For a full list of red-flag symptoms, see our Safety section below.
Some herbs used for fainting, particularly those that move Blood (like Dang Gui or Chuan Xiong), may interact with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications such as warfarin or aspirin. If you are taking any heart or blood pressure medication, always bring a complete list to your TCM practitioner. In many cases, herbs and acupuncture can be safely combined with conventional treatment, but the dosage and formula must be adjusted. Never stop prescribed medications abruptly - work with both your doctor and your TCM practitioner to taper safely if your condition improves.
The timeline depends on your pattern. Excess patterns, such as Liver Yang Rising triggered by stress, often improve within 2 to 4 weeks of herbs and acupuncture. Deficiency patterns, where the body's Qi and Blood are deeply depleted, may require 3 to 6 months of consistent treatment to rebuild reserves. Phlegm patterns also respond relatively quickly once dietary changes are made. Your practitioner will reassess your tongue and pulse at each visit and adjust the formula as your pattern shifts, so you'll likely notice steady progress even if complete resolution takes time.
Diet plays a supportive role in all patterns. If your fainting stems from Qi and Blood Deficiency, warm, nourishing foods like bone broth, slow-cooked stews, and dark leafy greens help rebuild your reserves. For Phlegm patterns, avoid greasy, dairy-heavy, and cold-raw foods that create dampness. If Liver Yang is the culprit, cut back on spicy, fried foods and stimulants like coffee. Your practitioner will give you specific guidance based on your pattern, but even simple changes - like eating regular, warm meals and avoiding icy drinks - can make a noticeable difference in how steady you feel.
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