Qiqing (Seven Emotions) refers to the human mental awareness and its response to external stimuli. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), appropriately expressing emotions is beneficial for health, but excessive suppression or expression can harm the body. To address emotional issues, one must cultivate the mind and manage emotions gradually through self-cultivation and nurturing. TCM categorizes emotions into seven types: joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, and shock, each corresponding to the five organs as follows:Excessive joy harms the heart, excessive anger harms the liver, excessive worry harms the spleen, excessive sadness harms the lungs, and excessive fear harms the kidneys. A normal person experiences slight happiness, anger, sadness, and fear in daily life without harming their health. It is only when these emotions become excessive that they affect the body. Emotional fluctuations can influence the flow of yangqi (yang energy) within the body, with different emotional states affecting its trajectory. The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) summarizes this as: anger causes qi to rise, joy causes qi to slow, fear causes qi to descend, shock causes qi to become chaotic, sadness causes qi to dissipate, worry causes qi to accumulate, and thought causes qi to stagnate.
If one becomes angry, the yangqi rises, which is why some people turn red in the face during heated arguments; the yangqi pushes blood upward, causing a sudden rush of blood to the face. An interesting term from ancient China is: “anger causes hair to stand on end.” This means that when a person is angry, the excess blood rushes to the head, causing the hair to stand up, which can even lift a hat. Although this is an exaggerated expression, it reflects the common understanding of TCM in ancient society.Extreme anger can lead to acute illnesses such as stroke and cerebral hemorrhage. When blood rushes to the head, pre-existing congested blood vessels in the brain can easily rupture, leading to cerebral hemorrhage. Additionally, if the yangqi suddenly rushes upward, individuals who are already weak may faint as the yin and yang cannot connect smoothly, allowing cold pathogens to enter and resulting in paralysis. Many elderly individuals on television have died from anger caused by family disputes, which has some truth to it. During severe illness, the body is very weak, and the last bit of yangqi resides in the kidneys. If a family member provokes anger, the last bit of yangqi may rise, leading to a phenomenon known as “returning light” where the face flushes before the yangqi departs, resulting in death. Therefore, when patients are very weak or after surgery, it is important not to provoke strong emotions in them. In daily life, anger can harm the liver and gallbladder, especially for those who tend to bottle up their anger, as it can easily lead to liver qi stagnation. The emotion of anger actually consists of two phases:The first phase is the stagnation of liver qi. When a person becomes angry about something, their body becomes agitated, causing the liver qi to stagnate immediately.The second phase is the release. When the liver detects that its meridians are congested, it attempts to release the stagnation, causing the qi to surge upward, and the person’s emotions are expressed through language, facial expressions, and actions. Those who bottle up their anger remain stuck in the first phase, unable to release the stagnated qi. If liver qi stagnation occurs occasionally, it is not a major issue, as the body can self-regulate. During sleep, the body can eliminate some negative emotions, and the stagnated qi may be released through bodily functions, such as passing gas. For example, some people feel much better after a good night’s sleep or after massaging certain acupuncture points. Although the body has a self-cleansing ability, if one frequently bottles up their anger, the cleansing ability may not be sufficient, leading to increasingly severe liver qi stagnation, resulting in symptoms such as chest and rib fullness, loss of appetite, nausea, and bitter dry mouth, which is due to liver qi not flowing smoothly and gallbladder qi reversing. Additionally, issues with the liver and gallbladder often manifest with gastrointestinal symptoms, as the liver and gallbladder are associated with wood, while the gastrointestinal tract is associated with earth. Wood overcomes earth, so individuals who experience bloating or diarrhea when angry likely have liver and gallbladder issues. By soothing the liver qi, these symptoms can be alleviated. Many chronic stomach issues are also related to liver and gallbladder problems, which is why TCM often incorporates herbs that soothe the liver when treating stomach conditions, leading to quicker recovery.
Subtle joy is greatly beneficial to the body. The Huangdi Neijing states: “Joy harmonizes qi and allows the spirit to flourish, thus qi flows smoothly.” When a person feels joy, the flow of yangqi throughout the body becomes unobstructed, and previously stagnant areas become smooth, eliminating accumulated frustration, allowing yangqi to flow at a moderate pace.Note that the TCM term “moderate” does not mean slow, but rather a gentle and unhurried state. Once the yangqi flows smoothly, it can better nourish the skin, which is why there is a saying: “A smile can take ten years off your age.” Those who maintain a joyful disposition not only stay healthy but also appear younger. Some may argue that those who laugh often develop many wrinkles, but this is not the case; wrinkles form when muscles relax and yangqi fails to reach the face, preventing the transport of blood and moisture. Over time, without the nourishment of blood and moisture, the skin becomes dry and wrinkles appear. For instance, children who laugh often do not develop wrinkles because they have abundant yangqi.However, excessive joy can harm the heart. For example, some people faint from excessive joy upon winning the lottery. Any extreme emotion can harm the body. Excessive joy can cause the qi to become sluggish; have you ever noticed that after a hearty laugh or a moment of great joy, you feel less motivated to do anything? This is a state of lethargy that occurs when the qi slows down.
Some individuals turn pale after being frightened because the blood and qi in their face descend. Others may experience incontinence due to fear, as the yangqi descends. If the yangqi is weak in the lower body, it cannot hold the urinary tract and anus, leading to involuntary expulsion of waste. This situation is more common in the elderly, as they often have weak yangqi. The kidneys are responsible for storing vital essence to support bodily development, bone marrow formation, and reproductive functions. However, when a person experiences excessive fear, the yangqi descends, leading to incontinence, and even the essence stored in the kidneys may be expelled with waste. In extreme cases, individuals may die from shock. It is a misconception that only sudden fright can harm the kidneys; prolonged exposure to fear can gradually deplete the essence in the kidneys, leading to a pale complexion and lack of vitality. This is due to the descent of qi and blood not reaching the face, and the gradual loss of essence from the kidneys results in a lack of energy, leading to lethargy.
Some sadness is not fleeting; it can last a long time, such as after a breakup or the death of a loved one. As mentioned earlier, sadness dissipates qi; when a person is in a state of sadness, their qi dissipates. Prolonged sadness and intense grief can easily lead to yang deficiency, weakening the body’s resistance. Some individuals who are already weak may faint from crying too much. Patients who remain in a state of prolonged sadness find it difficult to recover, as their yangqi is continuously consumed by this emotion.Without the return of yangqi, recovery becomes challenging. Sadness also harms the lungs, as the qi in the lungs tightens during sadness, preventing the expulsion of turbid air and phlegm. Over time, this leads to an accumulation of waste gases and tightness in the lungs, resulting in lung disease. Many ancient stories recount individuals who died from excessive grief after losing a spouse or parent, as their yangqi was depleted, and evil qi accumulated, leading to fatal illnesses.
When a person overthinks, their qi becomes stagnant, as all their attention is focused on their thoughts, causing the yangqi to concentrate in the brain. This prolonged concentration leads to stagnation of yangqi in the brain.The stagnation of yangqi in the brain can lead to insomnia. Many people experience this; when they think too much, their minds become restless at night, leading to difficulty sleeping. Even if they do fall asleep, they may have restless dreams due to the stagnation of yangqi in the brain, preventing the spirit from descending to the kidney water. When a person is deep in thought, the digestive function of the spleen and stomach diminishes, as yangqi is concentrated in the brain. The spleen and stomach, working in a low-energy environment for an extended period, deplete their own vital energy.Thus, those who frequently think or are forced to think often have poor spleen and stomach function. Consider the intense study period during high school; many may have experienced a decline in digestive function, sometimes even losing their appetite or feeling weak. The spleen and stomach are the source of postnatal qi, as they digest food and generate the energy that supports daily activities. A significant portion of yangqi is derived from the transformation of the spleen and stomach. Additionally, the spleen and stomach categorize the essence of food according to the nutritional needs of various organs. Therefore, individuals with long-term poor spleen and stomach function may appear pale and thin, feel fatigued, and frequently fall ill, not only due to yangqi deficiency but also because of the lack of nourishment to the five organs. It is essential to balance work and rest, limiting prolonged periods of intense thought, taking breaks to relax, and not fixating on a single problem, as this can be harmful to the body.
Shock and fear are often related, but shock primarily disturbs the spirit, causing unease, while fear is more about dread. Sudden fright can lead to a disordered mind, making it difficult to focus, resulting in chaotic qi flow. When checking their pulse, it may be erratic, and the person may appear disoriented.Frequent chaotic qi flow can easily lead to blood stasis and prevent yangqi from properly protecting the body. It is worth noting that children are particularly susceptible to fright; after being startled, they may cry at night or appear panicked. This indicates that their spirit is disturbed and cannot settle. A small amount of Fushen powder can be given to them.
The last emotion is worry,which arises when the mind cannot balance with reality. Worry is the fear of bad things happening, while thought is the anticipation of good things. Both involve thinking about the future, creating a contradiction when the future has not yet arrived. Our mind can only deal with the present; if it focuses on the future or distant matters, it becomes overwhelmed, leading to feelings of worry. During worry, qi accumulates; instead of spreading to protect the body, it becomes concentrated, leading to surface yang deficiency and increased susceptibility to illness. Spending years in a state of worry can also lead to liver qi stagnation, negatively affecting both the liver and spleen.
This discussion on emotions and illness aims to remind everyone not to experience extreme joy, sadness, fear, or anger, as these can be detrimental to health. While external treatments and medications can address illnesses caused by emotional disturbances, true healing begins with emotional regulation, gradual awareness, and self-cultivation!
