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.
Tendency to worry 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 tendency to worry 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 tendency to worry is often associated with painful period, irregular menstruation and lochia retention in the pattern “Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of tendency to worry we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause tendency to worry
In Chinese Medicine tendency to worry is a symptom for the pattern "Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the king ingredient for Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a formula used for Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
In addition to tendency to worry, other symptoms associated with Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels include painful period, irregular menstruation and lochia retention.
Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels is often treated with Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Cinnamon Twigs - Gui Zhi - as a key herb). Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation".
Read more about Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels here
A herbal formula that might help with tendency to worry
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation. Softens and resolves hard lumps such as cysts and fibroids.
Why might Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan help with tendency to worry?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels' of which tendency to worry is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Blood Stagnation In The Directing And Penetrating Vessels include painful period, irregular menstruation and lochia retention.
The two Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat tendency to worry
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with tendency to worry?
Because it is a key herb in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels' (a pattern with tendency to worry as a symptom)
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with tendency to worry?
Because it is a key herb in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels' (a pattern with tendency to worry as a symptom)
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Other symptoms often associated with tendency to worry
Painful period Irregular menstruation Lochia retention Persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood Fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen Abdominal pain Brown vaginal discharge Dark clots in menstrual blood Lower abdominal pain Umbilical pain