Symptoms of Six Excesses and Seven Emotions Related to Diet and External Injuries

1. Six Excesses and Epidemic Syndromes

The Six Excesses include Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire, which are external pathogenic factors. The characteristics of the Six Excesses include: firstly, they are related to seasons and living environments; for example, many people suffer from Heat illnesses in hot summer, and those living in damp areas are prone to Dampness. Secondly, the Six Excesses are external pathogens that often invade the body through the mouth, nose, and skin, commonly presenting with exterior symptoms at the onset. Thirdly, the Six Excesses often combine to cause disease, and during the progression of the illness, they can influence or transform into one another.

Epidemic diseases are a special type of pathogenic factor in nature, characterized by strong infectivity and rapid spread.

(1) Wind Syndrome

Wind syndrome refers to a category of diseases caused by the invasion of Wind pathogens. Wind is known as the leader of all diseases, characterized by its lightness, ability to disperse, and tendency to change rapidly, thus presenting with acute onset, quick resolution, and erratic symptoms.

[Clinical Manifestations] Fever with aversion to Wind, headache, sweating, cough, nasal congestion with runny nose. The tongue coating is thin and white, pulse is floating and slow, or there may be numbness in the limbs and face, facial droop, stiff neck, limb spasms, or skin itching.

[Syndrome Analysis] Wind pathogens invade the exterior, damaging the defensive Qi, causing the pores to open and close abnormally, hence the symptoms of fever with aversion to Wind, headache, and sweating. Wind invades the lungs, disrupting the liver Qi, leading to cough and nasal congestion. The floating and slow pulse, along with the thin white coating, indicates Wind invading the defensive Qi. When Wind invades the meridians, it obstructs the Qi, resulting in numbness, facial droop, stiffness, and spasms. Wind affecting the skin leads to itching.

(2) Cold Syndrome

Cold syndrome refers to a category of diseases caused by the invasion of Cold pathogens. Cold is a Yin pathogen, characterized by its coldness, stagnation, and ability to harm Yang Qi, obstructing the flow of Qi and blood.

[Clinical Manifestations] Aversion to cold with fever, no sweating, headache, body aches, wheezing cough, nasal congestion, thin white tongue coating, and tight floating pulse. There may also be stiffness in the limbs, cold extremities, weak pulse, abdominal pain with borborygmi, diarrhea, and vomiting.

[Syndrome Analysis] Cold pathogens bind the exterior, causing coldness to obstruct and close the pores, preventing the defensive Yang Qi from dispersing, hence the symptoms of fever with aversion to cold and no sweating. Cold pathogens stagnate in the meridians, leading to headache and body aches. The lungs are associated with the skin, and when the skin is affected, it leads to wheezing and nasal congestion. The tight floating pulse and thin white coating indicate Cold invading the exterior. If Cold stagnates in the meridians and damages Yang Qi, it can lead to stiffness in the limbs and cold extremities. If Cold penetrates internally, it can damage the Spleen and Stomach Yang, leading to abdominal pain, borborygmi, vomiting, and diarrhea.

(3) Heat Syndrome

Heat syndrome refers to a category of diseases caused by the invasion of Heat pathogens in summer. Heat is characterized by its hot and dispersive nature, often leading to symptoms of heat and easily damaging Qi and fluids, and it often combines with Dampness.

[Clinical Manifestations] Heat injury, fever, sweating, thirst, fatigue, yellow urine, red tongue, white or yellow coating, and rapid pulse. Heat stroke may present with high fever, sudden fainting, profuse sweating, thirst, shortness of breath, and even coma or convulsions, with a dry and red tongue and rapid pulse.

[Syndrome Analysis] Heat injury occurs due to the invasion of Heat and Dampness, leading to excessive sweating and depletion of fluids. The hot nature of Heat causes the fluids to evaporate, resulting in aversion to heat, excessive sweating, and thirst. Heat illness leads to excessive sweating, which depletes Qi, causing fatigue and a rapid pulse. When Heat combines with Dampness, it can lead to a white or yellow tongue coating. In cases of heat stroke, prolonged exposure to the sun can disturb the mind, leading to sudden fainting. The heat damages fluids, causing thirst, sweating, and shortness of breath; if the heat obstructs the mind, it can lead to confusion; if the heat is severe, it can cause internal wind, leading to convulsions; if the heat severely damages the Yin, the tongue may be dry and red, and the pulse may be rapid.

(4) Dampness Syndrome

Dampness syndrome refers to diseases caused by the invasion of Dampness pathogens. Dampness is heavy and sticky, easily obstructing the flow of Qi and damaging Yang Qi, leading to chronic and lingering symptoms.

[Clinical Manifestations] Dampness injury may present with head heaviness and pain, chest tightness, lack of thirst, body heaviness and pain, fever, fatigue, clear and profuse urination, white and slippery tongue coating, and weak or slow pulse. When Dampness invades, it may cause a feeling of heaviness throughout the body, fatigue, and weakness in the limbs, with a weak pulse.

[Syndrome Analysis] Dampness injury occurs when Dampness invades the exterior, often during rainy seasons, leading to symptoms such as head heaviness and pain, chest tightness, fatigue, and body heaviness. Dampness competes with the defensive Qi, leading to fever and sweating without resolution. As Dampness is a Yin pathogen, it does not harm fluids, hence the lack of thirst. Clear and profuse urination, white and slippery tongue coating, and weak or slow pulse indicate Dampness as the primary issue.

When Dampness invades the head, it can cause a feeling of heaviness, and when it pervades the body, it can lead to discomfort and weakness in the limbs. Dampness can also invade the joints, leading to pain and stiffness, clinically referred to as “Damp Bi”.

(5) Dryness Syndrome

Dryness syndrome refers to diseases caused by the invasion of Dryness pathogens. Dryness is characterized by its dry nature, which easily damages fluids, and can be classified into Cool Dryness and Warm Dryness.

[Clinical Manifestations] Cool Dryness presents with severe aversion to cold, mild fever, headache, no sweating, cough, throat itch, nasal congestion, dry white tongue, and floating pulse. Warm Dryness presents with body heat, mild aversion to Wind and Cold, headache with little sweating, thirst, irritability, dry cough with little phlegm, and even blood-streaked phlegm, with dry skin and nasal passages, dry tongue with yellow coating, and rapid pulse.

[Syndrome Analysis] Cool Dryness often occurs in late autumn when the weather turns cold, and Dryness combines with Cold to cause symptoms similar to Wind-Cold invasion, such as severe aversion to cold, mild fever, headache, and no sweating, along with cough, nasal congestion, and dry tongue. Warm Dryness occurs in early autumn when the weather is still warm, and the heat has not dissipated, leading to symptoms of fever, mild aversion to Wind and Cold, headache, little sweating, dry cough, and irritability. The dry tongue with yellow coating and rapid pulse indicate the presence of Dryness Heat.

(6) Fire Syndrome

Fire syndrome refers to diseases caused by the broad category of Fire Heat pathogens. Fire is characterized by its burning and urgent nature, often presenting with significant heat signs throughout the body or locally, easily damaging Yin fluids, leading to wind movement in the muscles and tendons, and can also cause blood to move erratically, resulting in bleeding.

[Clinical Manifestations] High fever, thirst, red face and eyes, irritability, sweating, or even delirium, nosebleeds, vomiting blood, rashes, or agitation and madness, or the presence of abscesses, with a red tongue and rapid or thin pulse.

[Syndrome Analysis] Fire Heat pathogens invade the Qi level, leading to high fever, thirst, red face and eyes, and a rapid pulse. If the pathogens do not resolve at the Qi level and enter the blood level, they can cause bleeding, rashes, and agitation. If Fire Heat is excessive, it can disturb the heart and liver, leading to agitation and madness. If Fire toxins accumulate between the flesh and blood, they can lead to abscesses. A red tongue and rapid pulse indicate the presence of Fire Heat deeply affecting the blood.

(7) Epidemic Syndromes

Epidemic syndromes, also known as Warm Diseases, refer to infectious diseases caused by epidemic viruses. One characteristic of epidemic diseases is the presence of a specific source and transmission route. The sources of transmission include: one is the natural environment, transmitted through the air; the other is person-to-person transmission through contact, primarily through the respiratory and digestive tracts. Another characteristic of epidemic diseases is their strong infectivity and high mortality rate.

[Clinical Manifestations] At the onset, there is severe aversion to cold and fever, followed by high fever, body aches, red face or dirtiness, thirst, sweating, irritability, and in severe cases, confusion and delirium, limb spasms, red tongue, thick yellow or dry white coating, and a rapid and strong pulse.

If there is swelling and pain in the head and neck, along with severe throat pain, it is known as “Big Head Fever”.

If there is fever, severe throat swelling and ulceration, and a widespread scarlet rash, it is known as “Rotten Throat Disease”.

If there is throat swelling covered with a white membrane, hoarse cough, and difficulty swallowing and breathing, it is known as “Epidemic Throat”.

If the onset is accompanied by severe spasmodic cough, leading to cyanosis of the face, runny nose and tears, vomiting, and a characteristic barking cough, it is often seen in children and is known as “Epidemic Cough”, also referred to as “Whooping Cough”.

If there is abdominal pain with red and white diarrhea, urgency, and a feeling of heaviness, it is known as “Epidemic Dysentery”.

[Syndrome Analysis] The epidemic pathogen enters through the mouth and nose, or hides in the membranes, leading to initial symptoms of severe aversion to cold and fever. The epidemic toxin rapidly spreads through the three burners, causing high fever and body aches. If the epidemic toxin attacks upwards, it can lead to a red face and red tongue. If the toxin moves upwards to the tongue, it can cause a white coating resembling powder and a dirty complexion. If the heat is excessive, it can lead to profuse sweating. If the heat disturbs the mind, it can lead to irritability and confusion. If the heat generates wind, it can cause limb spasms.

If the Wind-Heat toxin obstructs the Shaoyang Gallbladder channel, it can lead to stagnation of Qi and blood in the local area, resulting in swelling and pain in the head and neck, along with severe throat pain.

If the epidemic toxin obstructs the lungs and stomach, it can lead to throat swelling and ulceration, with a bright red tongue; if it spreads to the skin, it can cause a widespread scarlet rash.

If Dryness and Fire epidemic toxins enter through the mouth and nose, they can cause throat swelling and the formation of a white membrane, which cannot be wiped away; if the membrane covers the airway, it can lead to hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and breathing.

If there is hidden phlegm in the body, and the epidemic toxin invades, the epidemic toxin and phlegm can combine, deeply hiding in the lungs, leading to a loss of clarity in the lungs, and causing paroxysmal spasmodic cough. If the cough is severe, it can lead to cyanosis of the face, runny nose and tears, and vomiting. If there is unclean food, and Damp-Heat epidemic toxins invade the stomach and intestines, obstructing Qi, burning Qi and blood, it can lead to abdominal pain, urgency, and red and white diarrhea.

2. Seven Emotions Syndromes

The Seven Emotions refer to joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, and shock. When emotional stimuli exceed the patient’s ability to regulate, diseases can occur. The syndromes of the Seven Emotions are commonly seen in internal injuries and miscellaneous diseases.

Emotional injuries have three characteristics: firstly, they directly affect the Qi of the organs through what is heard and seen, leading to dysfunction of the organs, disharmony of Qi and blood, and imbalance of Yin and Yang. For example, anger causes Qi to rise, fear causes Qi to descend, shock causes Qi to become chaotic, sadness causes Qi to dissipate, thought causes Qi to stagnate, and joy causes Qi to relax. Secondly, they are related to personal character and living environment. For instance, those with an irritable temperament are easily harmed by anger, while those with a solitary character are often harmed by worry and thought. Thirdly, different emotional changes affect different organs. For example, joy harms the heart, anger harms the liver, thought harms the spleen, sadness harms the lungs, and fear harms the kidneys.

Clinical practice has proven that emotional injuries can affect the function of the organs, and while it is certain that specific organs are affected, the exact nature of the injury and the resulting Qi changes are not always as mechanical as described above; only through detailed examination of the condition can a more accurate diagnosis be made.

[Clinical Manifestations] Joy injury may present with mental confusion, lack of concentration, and in severe cases, confusion of the mind, incoherent speech, erratic behavior, and a slow pulse; anger injury may present with dizziness or distension pain, red face and eyes, bitter mouth, chest tightness, sighing, irritability, distension or pain in the flanks, belching, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and in severe cases, vomiting blood or fainting, with a wiry pulse; thought injury may present with dizziness, forgetfulness, palpitations, fatigue, insomnia with vivid dreams, poor appetite, weight loss, abdominal distension with loose stools, pale tongue, and slow pulse; worry injury may present with emotional depression, unhappiness, fatigue, and poor appetite, with a rough pulse; sadness may present with a pale complexion, frequent sighing and weeping, and a weak pulse; fear injury may present with lower abdominal distension, nocturnal emissions, and incontinence; shock injury may present with emotional instability, fearful expression, palpitations, insomnia, and in severe cases, confusion of the mind and erratic behavior.

[Syndrome Analysis] Joy is the emotion of the heart; excessive joy can scatter the heart Qi, leading to mental confusion, lack of concentration, and in severe cases, confusion of the mind and incoherent speech.

Anger is the emotion of the liver; anger causes Qi to rise, and excessive anger can lead to liver Qi stagnation, causing distension and pain in the flanks, chest tightness, and irritability. If liver Qi reverses, it can invade the spleen and stomach, leading to belching and vomiting; if spleen Qi fails to rise, it can lead to abdominal distension and diarrhea.

Liver Qi rising can lead to blood rising with Qi, causing dizziness, headache, red face and eyes, and in severe cases, it can lead to fainting due to blood obstructing the mind.

Thought arises from the spleen and manifests in the heart; excessive thinking can deplete spleen Qi and lead to heart blood deficiency. If spleen Qi is deficient, it can lead to poor digestion, resulting in poor appetite and abdominal distension. If heart blood is insufficient, it can lead to palpitations and insomnia with vivid dreams. If the body lacks nourishment from Qi and blood, it can lead to weight loss, fatigue, dizziness, and a pale tongue with a slow pulse.

Long-term worry can deplete the Qi of the organs, leading to fatigue and poor appetite. Excessive sadness can dissipate Qi, leading to a pale complexion, frequent sighing, and a weak pulse.

Fear causes Qi to descend; extreme fear can deplete kidney essence, leading to nocturnal emissions, incontinence, and obstruction of Qi in the lower abdomen.

Shock causes Qi to become chaotic, leading to emotional instability, fearful expression, palpitations, insomnia, and in severe cases, confusion of the mind and erratic behavior.

3. Diet and Work-Rest Syndromes

Diet and work-rest are essential for human survival. However, if not properly regulated, they can also become pathogenic factors.

(1) Diet Injury Syndromes

Diet injury syndromes refer to disorders caused by irregular eating habits that disrupt the functions of the spleen, stomach, and intestines.

[Clinical Manifestations] If the injury is in the stomach, there may be stomach pain, aversion to food odors, poor appetite, chest fullness, acid regurgitation, thick and greasy tongue coating, and a slippery and strong pulse. If the injury is in the intestines, there may be abdominal pain and diarrhea; if toxic substances are ingested, there may be nausea and vomiting, or alternating vomiting and diarrhea, with severe abdominal pain, headache, spasms, and even coma.

[Syndrome Analysis] Overeating can exceed the digestive capacity of the spleen and stomach, leading to food not being digested in time, causing stomach Qi to fail to descend, resulting in aversion to food odors, poor appetite, chest fullness, and acid regurgitation. If the injury is in the stomach, Qi stagnation can lead to stomach pain. If the injury is in the intestines, it can affect the small intestine’s ability to receive and the large intestine’s ability to transmit, leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Ingesting toxic substances can severely injure the stomach and intestines, leading to chaotic Qi and even severe poisoning symptoms such as headache, spasms, and coma.

(2) Work-Rest Injury Syndromes

Work-rest injury syndromes refer to disorders caused by excessive physical or mental fatigue, or excessive idleness.

[Clinical Manifestations] Overwork can lead to fatigue, lethargy, excessive sleeping, and reduced appetite. Excessive idleness can lead to obesity, difficulty moving, shortness of breath upon exertion, palpitations, and weakness in the limbs.

[Syndrome Analysis] Overwork depletes energy, leading to damage to the original Qi, resulting in fatigue, lethargy, excessive sleeping, and reduced appetite. Excessive idleness can lead to poor circulation of Qi and blood, fat accumulation, and obesity, which can lead to palpitations and shortness of breath upon exertion.

(3) Sexual Activity Injury Syndromes

Sexual activity injury syndromes refer to disorders caused by excessive sexual activity, early marriage, or excessive childbirth, leading to kidney deficiency and reproductive system disorders.

[Clinical Manifestations] Dizziness, tinnitus, weakness in the lower back and knees, weight loss. In men, there may be nocturnal emissions, premature ejaculation, and impotence; in women, there may be dream intercourse, cold uterus leading to infertility, and scanty or absent menstruation with profuse clear discharge.

[Syndrome Analysis] Kidney essence deficiency leads to an inability to nourish the body, resulting in weight loss and weakness in the lower back and knees. If kidney essence is damaged, it cannot produce marrow, leading to insufficient nourishment of the mind, resulting in dizziness and tinnitus. The kidneys govern reproduction; if Yang is deficient, it can lead to impotence and premature ejaculation in men, and cold uterus leading to infertility, scanty menstruation, or amenorrhea in women. If the kidneys are deficient, the Chong and Ren vessels cannot be restrained, leading to profuse clear discharge.

4. External Injury Syndromes

External injury syndromes refer to local symptoms and overall manifestations caused by external trauma, such as cuts, falls, animal bites, and insect stings. External injuries primarily affect the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, leading to Qi and blood stagnation. Additionally, they can lead to poisoning, where toxins invade the organs, causing loss of consciousness and even threatening life.

(1) Injuries from Cuts and Falls

This syndrome refers to injuries caused by cuts, falls, or other accidents resulting in damage to the skin, flesh, tendons, or internal organs.

[Clinical Manifestations] Mild cases may present with local bruising, swelling, and pain, with limited movement, or bleeding; severe cases may involve tendon and bone injuries with intense pain; if internal organs are injured, there may be vomiting blood or blood in the stool; if the brain is injured, there may be fixed gaze and loss of consciousness.

[Syndrome Analysis] Local injuries can damage blood vessels, leading to bruising, swelling, pain, and limited movement. If the skin is damaged, blood may flow outside the vessels, leading to bleeding. Severe injuries can lead to tendon and bone damage, resulting in intense pain; if internal organs are injured, it can lead to vomiting blood or blood in the stool. If the head is injured, it can lead to damage to the mind, resulting in fixed gaze and loss of consciousness.

(2) Injuries from Insects and Animals

This syndrome refers to diseases caused by bites from poisonous insects, snakes, or rabid animals.

[Clinical Manifestations] Insect stings may present with local redness, swelling, and pain, rashes, and numbness; severe cases may involve headache and loss of consciousness.

Snake bites may present with pain, numbness, or swelling at the bite site, blistering, and in severe cases, necrosis and ulceration; if systemic poisoning occurs, there may be dizziness, blurred vision, chest tightness, weakness in the limbs, clenched jaw, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, and weak or irregular pulse.

Dog bites may present with fear of light, water, sound, and wind, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and limb spasms.

[Syndrome Analysis] If stung by bees, scorpions, centipedes, or caterpillars, local damage may lead to redness, swelling, and pain; if the toxins invade the meridians, it can lead to numbness and pain in the limbs; if the toxins spread throughout the body, it can lead to dizziness and loss of consciousness.

In the case of snake bites, the toxins accumulate at the site, leading to pain, numbness, swelling, blistering, and in severe cases, necrosis and ulceration; if the toxins spread throughout the body (usually within 1-6 hours after the injury), it can lead to dizziness, chest tightness, blurred vision, clenched jaw, weakness in the limbs, difficulty breathing, and dilated pupils.

Dog bites generally have an incubation period of 15-60 days, with some lasting over a year, as the toxins gradually spread throughout the body, leading to muscle numbness, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and spasms triggered by light, sound, water, or other stimuli.

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