The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Manic behavior can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like manic behavior here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here manic behavior is often associated with high fever, vomiting of blood and epistaxis in the pattern “Heat victorious agitating Blood”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of manic behavior we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Heat victorious agitating Blood, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause manic behavior
In Chinese Medicine manic behavior is a symptom for the pattern "Heat victorious agitating Blood". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the king ingredient for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Heat victorious agitating Blood
Heat victorious agitating Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to manic behavior, other symptoms associated with Heat victorious agitating Blood include high fever, vomiting of blood and epistaxis.
Heat victorious agitating Blood is often treated with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Water Buffalo Horns - Shui Niu Jiao - as a key herb). Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear nutritive-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system".
A herbal formula that might help with manic behavior
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Why might Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang help with manic behavior?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat victorious agitating Blood' of which manic behavior is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Heat Victorious Agitating Blood include high fever, vomiting of blood and epistaxis.
Water buffalo horn might help with manic behavior
Why might Water Buffalo Horn (Shui Niu Jiao) help with manic behavior?
Because it is a key herb in Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Heat victorious agitating Blood' (a pattern with manic behavior as a symptom)
Water Buffalo Horns is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Salty. It targets the Stomach, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, drains Fire and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears Heat and Fire and stops tremors and convulsions. Cools Fire and expels toxins.
Other symptoms often associated with manic behavior
High fever Vomiting of blood Epistaxis Bloody stools Blood in urine