Anxiety and Restlessness

Anxiety and Restlessness

Anxiety refers to fear and timidity. The heart is the emperor fire; when the emperor fire is clear and bright, there is no anxiety or fear, so why would there be palpitations? When heart fire is deficient, qi becomes weak and palpitations occur; when blood does not nourish the heart, the spirit becomes unstable and palpitations ensue. Zhang Zhongjing used Jianzhong Tang to treat qi-deficient palpitations, and Zhi Gan Cao Tang to treat blood-deficient palpitations. Today, we use Yangrong Tang to replace Jianzhong Tang and Guipi Tang to replace Zhi Gan Cao Tang, addressing qi deficiency and blood deficiency respectively. Additionally, when pathogenic factors from drinking rise and water overwhelms the heart, with fire fearing water and causing palpitations, Ling Gui Shu Gan Tang is used for treatment. Patients with blood loss often experience qi and blood deficiency-related palpitations, while cases of water overwhelming the heart are rare. It is also said that when the body is weak, evil forces will inevitably gather. Therefore, all cases of palpitations, anxiety, forgetfulness, and confusion are largely caused by phlegm and fire saturating the heart⁽¹⁾, disrupting the spirit, and are uniformly treated with Jinbo Zhenxin Wan.

[Note] (1) Wo: Means to pour or irrigate.

[Commentary] Anxiety is sudden fear and timidity, while palpitations are a manifestation of fear and timidity. Anxiety is governed by the auxiliary fire, and when gallbladder qi is not strong, anxiety arises, requiring Gui Zhi Longgu Mu Li Gan Cao Tang for treatment. For severe anxiety, people dare not sleep alone, requiring Ren Shu San. When there is phlegm in the gallbladder meridian, Wen Dan Tang is recommended. When gallbladder fire is overly strong, Da Chaihu and Danggui Lu Hui Wan are suggested. Palpitations are governed by the emperor fire, and when blood does not nourish the heart, palpitations occur, requiring Guipi Tang. Qi-deficient palpitations are treated with Zhi Gan Cao Tang. When water overwhelms the heart, Ling Gui Shu Gan Tang is used.