The concept of Qiqing (七情, Seven Emotions) is one of the fundamental theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is a unique aspect of TCM psychology.
The origin of Qiqing is found in the Neijing (《内经》, Inner Canon) with its theories of the “Five Emotions” and “Nine Qi.” During the Song Dynasty, Chen Wuze in his work San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun (《三因极 一病证方论》) clearly defined the seven emotions, leading to the maturation and standardization of the concept of Qiqing.
Qiqing represents common human emotions, which only become pathological when they exceed a certain threshold. Sudden, intense, or prolonged emotional stimuli that surpass the body’s regulatory capacity can lead to disturbances in the organs’ Qi and blood, as well as imbalances in Yin and Yang, resulting in disease. Thus, Qiqing can be considered a cause of disease, often referred to as “Qiqing Neishang” (七情内伤, Internal Injury from the Seven Emotions). The pathological effects of Qiqing Neishang encompass two aspects: one is the initiation or exacerbation of disease, and the other is the influence on the progression and outcome of the disease. The characteristics of disease caused by Qiqing differ from those caused by the Liuyin (六淫, Six Excesses). While the Liuyin invades the body through the mouth, nose, and skin, presenting with exterior symptoms at onset, Qiqing Neishang directly affects the corresponding internal organs, leading to various internal pathological changes. Therefore, the characteristics of disease caused by Qiqing are as follows:
1. Direct Injury to Internal Organs
Since emotional activities correspond to the five internal organs, excessive emotions can damage the related organs. The Suwen (《素问》, Simple Questions) states, “Anger injures the liver,” “Joy injures the heart,” “Worry injures the spleen,” “Sadness injures the lungs,” and “Fear injures the kidneys.” Different emotional stimuli affect various organs, but as humans are a whole, the Lingshu (《灵枢》, Spiritual Pivot) also mentions, “The heart is the master of the five organs and six bowels… Therefore, sadness and worry affect the heart, and when the heart is disturbed, all organs and bowels are shaken.” This indicates that various emotional stimuli are related to the heart, and if the heart is affected, it can also impact other organs, making the heart a central player in diseases caused by Qiqing. Clinically, diseases caused by Qiqing are most commonly seen in the heart, liver, and spleen.
2. Influence on the Qi Mechanism of the Organs
The heart regulates the ascending and descending Qi of the organs, and emotional disturbances primarily harm the heart, subsequently affecting the Qi mechanism of the organs, leading to irregularities in the ascending and descending Qi, which manifests as corresponding clinical symptoms.
The Suwen states, “Anger causes Qi to rise, joy causes Qi to relax, sadness causes Qi to dissipate, fear causes Qi to descend… shock causes Qi to become chaotic… overthinking causes Qi to stagnate.”
“Anger causes Qi to rise” means that excessive anger can cause liver Qi to surge, leading to blood rising with the Qi. Common clinical symptoms include headache, flushed face, vomiting blood, and even fainting.
“Joy causes Qi to relax” indicates that joy can ease mental tension and promote a pleasant mood, but sudden excessive joy can scatter the heart Qi, leading to a loss of focus.
“Sadness causes Qi to dissipate” refers to excessive sadness damaging lung Qi, resulting in symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and lethargy.
“Fear causes Qi to descend” means that excessive fear can lead to kidney Qi instability, resulting in incontinence.
“Shock causes Qi to become chaotic” indicates that sudden fright can disrupt heart Qi, leading to confusion and anxiety.
“Overthinking causes Qi to stagnate” refers to excessive worry harming the spirit and spleen, leading to Qi stagnation, which can result in symptoms like dullness, forgetfulness, insomnia, vivid dreams, abdominal distension, and constipation.
3. Commonly Associated with Emotional Disorders
Diseases related to emotions are often linked to emotional stimuli. Abnormal emotional expressions can lead to emotional disorders such as depression, mania, or psychosomatic symptoms like palpitations and dizziness. Other diseases can also be triggered by emotional stimuli, including malignant tumors, diabetes, and chronic liver and gallbladder diseases, which often exhibit abnormal emotional manifestations.
Although Qiqing is related to specific organs, it primarily affects the heart, which governs mental awareness and cognitive activities. Therefore, diseases caused by Qiqing often develop into emotional disorders. Fluctuations in emotions can lead to changes in the disease state. In managing emotions, adopting a positive and optimistic attitude, along with appropriate emotional expressions, can facilitate recovery. Conversely, if emotional fluctuations are abnormal and pessimistic, they can exacerbate the condition. Thus, maintaining a good mood is crucial for both physical and mental health.
Editor: Miaozhi
Announcer: Yixin
