Tremors in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different tremors patterns according to TCM theory
Educational content • Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice
Tremors refer to involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions leading to shaking movements in one or more parts of the body. They are commonly observed in the hands and can extend to the head, voice, arms, or legs.
Tremors are often a symptom of neurological disorders but can occur in otherwise healthy individuals. Known as fine tremor or essential tremor in more specific terms, these movements can vary in severity and frequency, affecting daily activities and quality of life.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perceives tremors as an indication of internal imbalance, primarily involving the body's vital energy or Qi, Blood, and the harmony between Yin and Yang.
TCM does not view tremors solely as a neurological issue but as a symptom arising from systemic disharmony. TCM practitioners focus on identifying and correcting the underlying patterns of imbalance, using a holistic approach to restore the body's natural equilibrium.
TCM Patterns for Tremors
Wind
Causes: Tremor, Fine tremor
Interior Wind
Tremor
Along with: Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder, Mouth deviation, Eye deviation, Tremors, Headaches, Limb numbness
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Tremor
Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
Tremor
Along with: Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Hypertension, Dry throat, Dry eyes, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Back pain, Oliguria, Night sweats
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Fine tremor
Along with: Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Insomnia, Scanty menstruation
Blood Stasis
Causes: Tremor
Blood Stagnation
Tremor
Along with: Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Lumps
Yang Excess
Causes: Tremor
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
Tremor
Along with: Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Hypertension, Dry throat, Dry eyes, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Back pain, Oliguria, Night sweats
Blood Deficiency
Causes: Fine tremor
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Fine tremor
Along with: Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Insomnia, Scanty menstruation
Heat
Causes: Tremor
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Tremor
Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood
Herbal Formulas for Tremors
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address tremors
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes Blood
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Hypertension...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Fine tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory...
Feng Yin Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Extinguishes and pacifies Wind with heavy medicinals
- Calms the Mind
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Hypertension...
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Cools the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Increases Fluids
- Relaxes the sinews
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache...
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Hypertension...
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Nourishes the Yin
- Anchors the Yang
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Hypertension...
Bu Gan Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and regulates the Blood
- Nourishes the Liver Yin
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Fine tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory...
Si Wu Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores and nourishes Blood
- Stimulates Blood circulation
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Fine tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory...
Zi Xue Dan
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Opens the sensory orifices
- Controls spasms and convulsions
- Extinguishes Wind
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache...
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Hypertension...
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Heat and
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes wind
- Invigorates the blood
- Clears heat
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Stagnant Heat in the intestines
- Reduces swelling and disperses lumps
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Transforms Blood Stasis
- Softens lumps
- Reduces fixed abdominal pain
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Di Dang Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Dan Shen Yin
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation
- Promote Qi movement
- Relieves pain
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
- Generates new Blood
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
- Reduces swelling
- Induces ulceration
- Moves the Blood and dispels stasis
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Hai Tong Pi Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Disperses swelling
- Dispels Wind, Dampness and Cold
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Warms and harmonizes the channels
- Unblocks painful obstruction
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Yu Lin Zhu
Addresses these tremors patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Kidney Yang
- Consolidates the Penetrating and Directing Vessel (Chong Mai, Ren Mai)
- Facilitating pregnancy
- Promotes Blood circulation and regulates menstruation
Addresses These Tremors Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Tremor
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...