Fear in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different fear patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Fear is a fundamental emotional response triggered by the perception of danger or threat. It involves complex physiological and psychological reactions, including increased heart rate, heightened alertness, and the release of stress hormones. While fear serves as a crucial survival mechanism, it can become problematic when excessive or persistent, potentially manifesting as anxiety disorders or phobias.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views fear as a manifestation of imbalance within the body's energy systems. TCM associates fear primarily with the Kidney system, which governs willpower and stores essence. However, other organ systems like the Heart and Liver can also play a role. TCM emphasizes identifying specific underlying patterns of disharmony before treatment, as addressing the root cause is crucial for restoring balance and alleviating symptoms.
TCM Patterns for Fear
Qi Deficiency
Causes: Listlessness
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Listlessness
Along with: General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations, Dizziness, Poor memory, Insomnia, Dislike of speaking, Loss of appetite, Limb numbness, Skin numbness
Qi Deficiency
Listlessness
Along with: General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat, Frequent colds or flu, Loss of appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of breath
Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation
Listlessness
Along with: Coughing, Hypochondrial fullness and distention with pain alleviated by warmth, Dizziness, Headaches, Depression, Apathy, Moving pain, Hepatitis, Chronic cholecystitis, Chronic gastritis
Cold
Causes: Listlessness
Empty-Cold
Listlessness
Along with: Chills, Cold extremities, Pale face, Absence of thirst, Apathy, Excessive sweating, Diarrhea, Clear urination, Frequent urination
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
Listlessness
Along with: Chills, Diarrhea, Absence of thirst, Desire to lie down curled up, Apathy, Hypersomnia, Cold extremities, Frequent pale urination
Yang Collapse
Causes: Listlessness
Collapse of Yang
Listlessness
Along with: Apathy, Chills, Cold extremities, Bright pale face, Sweating on forehead, Absence of thirst, Urinary or fecal incontinence, Frequent urination, Diarrhea
Yin Deficiency
Causes: Listlessness
Empty-Wind agitating in the Interior
Listlessness
Along with: Low grade fever, Hand tremor, Weight loss, Flushed cheekbones, Apathy, Limb twitching
Phlegm
Causes: Listlessness
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Listlessness
Along with: Late menstruation, Amenorrhea, Scanty menstruation, Lower abdominal pain, Abdominal heaviness, Stifling sensation in the chest, Generalized fatigue, Diarrhea, Dull pale complexion, Obesity, Infertility, Ovarian cysts, Ovarian fibroids, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Pseudocyesis, Sputum, Feeling of heaviness
Yang Deficiency
Causes: Listlessness
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
Listlessness
Along with: Chills, Diarrhea, Absence of thirst, Desire to lie down curled up, Apathy, Hypersomnia, Cold extremities, Frequent pale urination
Blood Deficiency
Causes: Listlessness
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Listlessness
Along with: General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations, Dizziness, Poor memory, Insomnia, Dislike of speaking, Loss of appetite, Limb numbness, Skin numbness
Qi Sinking
Causes: Listlessness
Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking
Listlessness
Along with: Uterine prolapse, Prolapsed bladder, Stomach prolapse, Nephroptosis, Anus prolapse, Bearing down sensation in abdomen, Hemorrhoids, Chronic diarrhea, Frequent and urgent urination, Urinary incontinence, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Intestines prolapse, Vaginal prolapse
Qi Stagnation
Causes: Listlessness
Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation
Listlessness
Along with: Coughing, Hypochondrial fullness and distention with pain alleviated by warmth, Dizziness, Headaches, Depression, Apathy, Moving pain, Hepatitis, Chronic cholecystitis, Chronic gastritis
Wind
Causes: Listlessness
Empty-Wind agitating in the Interior
Listlessness
Along with: Low grade fever, Hand tremor, Weight loss, Flushed cheekbones, Apathy, Limb twitching
Dampness
Causes: Listlessness
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Listlessness
Along with: Late menstruation, Amenorrhea, Scanty menstruation, Lower abdominal pain, Abdominal heaviness, Stifling sensation in the chest, Generalized fatigue, Diarrhea, Dull pale complexion, Obesity, Infertility, Ovarian cysts, Ovarian fibroids, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Pseudocyesis, Sputum, Feeling of heaviness
Herbal Formulas for Fear
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address fear
Ban Liu Wan
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Fortifies the Fire at the Gate of Vitality
- Expels Cold
- Unblocks the Yang
- Drains Turbidity
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Empty-Cold
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Chills, Cold extremities, Pale face, Absence of thirst, Apathy, Excessive sweating...
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)
- Raises the Yang
- Detoxifies
- Lifts what has sunken
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Uterine prolapse, Prolapsed bladder, Stomach prolapse, Nephroptosis, Anus prolapse, Bearing down sensation in abdomen...
Da Jian Zhong Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies Middle Burner Deficiency
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Relieves pain
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Empty-Cold
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Chills, Cold extremities, Pale face, Absence of thirst, Apathy, Excessive sweating...
Du Shen Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Original Qi
- Stabilizes from collapse
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Uterine prolapse, Prolapsed bladder, Stomach prolapse, Nephroptosis, Anus prolapse, Bearing down sensation in abdomen...
Gui Pi Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood
- Tonifies Heart and Spleen
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Guo Qi Yin
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the menses
- Dispels blood Stagnation
- Nourishes the blood
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach)
- Tonifies Qi
- Relieves spasmodic pain
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Empty-Cold
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Chills, Cold extremities, Pale face, Absence of thirst, Apathy, Excessive sweating...
Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores and revives the Yang
- Augments the Qi
- Revives the pulse
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Collapse of Yang
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Apathy, Chills, Cold extremities, Bright pale face, Sweating on forehead, Absence of thirst...
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi
- Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach
- Clears Phlegm and mucus
- Promotes appetite
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat...
Shen Fu Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores Yang
- Strongly tonifies the source Qi
- Saves Qi from collapsing due to devastated Yang
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Collapse of Yang
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Apathy, Chills, Cold extremities, Bright pale face, Sweating on forehead, Absence of thirst...
Si Jun Zi Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi
- Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat...
Si Ni Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Rescues devastated Yang
- Warms the Middle Burner
- Stops diarrhea
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Chills, Diarrhea, Absence of thirst, Desire to lie down curled up, Apathy, Hypersomnia...
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi
- Removes Dampness
- Moves Qi
- Alleviates pain
- Strengthens the Spleen and Harmonizes the Stomach,
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Late menstruation, Amenorrhea, Scanty menstruation, Lower abdominal pain, Abdominal heaviness, Stifling sensation in the chest...
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Treats the Lesser Yang Channels (Gallbladder and Triple Warmer)
- Regulates the Liver and Spleen functions
- Addresses combined Yin-Yang symptoms of External and Internal, Excess and Deficiency, and Hot and Cold
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Hypochondrial fullness and distention with pain alleviated by warmth, Dizziness, Headaches, Depression, Apathy...
Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Resolves Damp-Phlegm
- Nourishes Blood
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Late menstruation, Amenorrhea, Scanty menstruation, Lower abdominal pain, Abdominal heaviness, Stifling sensation in the chest...
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Nourishes the Yin
- Anchors the Yang
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Empty-Wind agitating in the Interior
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
Low grade fever, Hand tremor, Weight loss, Flushed cheekbones, Apathy, Limb twitching
Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Addresses these fear patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes the Blood
- Restores the pulse
Addresses These Fear Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Listlessness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
You Gui Wan
Traditional formula for fear
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang
- Replenishes the Essence
- Tonifies the Blood
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Traditional formula for fear
Main Actions
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Arrests wheezing
- Stops coughing
- Warms and transforms Phlegm-Cold
Ren Shen Ge Jie San
Traditional formula for fear
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Qi
- Augments the Kidneys
- Stops coughing
- Arrests wheezing