Root Causes of Irritability in TCM

Explore below more details about what might cause Irritability according to TCM.

  • By Syndrome
  • By Organ
  • Heat
  • Qi Stagnation
  • Yin Deficiency
Detailed description of the cause

Heat

In TCM "Heat" signifies an excess of Yang energy, leading to an imbalance where heat predominates over the body's cool Yin aspects. This condition is metaphorically akin to an internal over-heating. Symptoms indicative of Heat can include feelings of warmth, fever, sweating, irritability, red face, thirst with a preference for cold drinks, and a rapid pulse. The tongue may appear red with a yellow coating. Unlike the common interpretation of heat in terms of temperature, in TCM, it represents a state of hyperactivity or inflammation in the body.... see more

Heat Patterns That Can Lead to Irritability

Common Symptoms: Thirst Constipation Flushed Face Bitter Taste In The Mouth Dry Stools Dark Urine Dizziness Insomnia

Pattern Name Relevant Symptoms Relevant Formulas
Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines Irritability, Afternoon fever, Excessive sweating, Sweating on limbs, Abdominal fullness, Abdominal pain, Constipation, Dry stools, Thirst, Dark urine, Anal burning, Delirium... see more Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang | Xiao Cheng Qi Tang
Bright Yang Stomach Heat Irritability, High fever, Excessive sweating, Excessive thirst, Flushed face, Feeling of heat, Delirium... see more Bai Hu Tang
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder Irritability, Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Nausea or vomiting, Fat malabsorption, Dull yellow complexion, Scanty and dark urine, Fever, Dry mouth without desire to drink, Bitter taste in the mouth, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Feeling of heaviness, Limb numbness, Foot edema, Alternating diarrhea and constipation, Alternating sensation of hot and cold, Yellow sclera... see more Yin Chen Hao Tang
Heat in the Blood Irritability, Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia, Hematuria, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood, Nosebleeds, Excessive menstruation... see more Jia Wei Xiao Yao San | Qing Jing San | Long Dan Xie Gan Tang | Liang Di Tang | Di Gu Pi Yin | Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang | Gu Jing Wan | Shi Hui San | Bai He Di Huang Tang | Hua Ban Tang | Qing Ying Tang | Qing Re Gu Jing Tang
Lesser Yin Heat Transformation Irritability, Feeling of heat, Insomnia, Dry mouth and throat at night, Dark urine, Night sweats... see more Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Liver Fire Blazing Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Cough of blood, Vomiting blood... see more Long Dan Xie Gan Tang | Dang Gui Long Hui Wan | Xie Qing Wan
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire Irritability, Tremors, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood... see more Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang | Zi Xue Dan | Feng Yin Tang
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire Irritability, Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Globus sensation, Feeling of heat, Flushed face, Thirst, Anger, Pre menstrual tension, Irregular periods, Pre menstrual breast distension, Excessive menstruation... see more Jia Wei Xiao Yao San | Long Dan Xie Gan Tang | Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San | Xuan Yu Tong Jing Tang
Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation Irritability, Upper abdominal oppression, Nausea, Lack of appetite, Diarrhea, Feeling of heaviness, Dry mouth without desire to drink, Dull shallow face, Upper abdominal distension, Hypochondriac distention, Hypochondriac pain... see more Ping Wei San | Dang Gui Shao Yao San
Stomach Heat or Fire Irritability, Upper abdominal burning pain, Excessive thirst, Craving for cold beverages, Restlessness, Dry stools, Dry mouth, Mouth ulcers, Acid reflux, Nausea, Vomiting after eating, Excessive hunger, Bad breath, Feeling of heat, Acne... see more Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang | Hua Ban Tang | Qing Wei San | Xie Huang San | Fei Er Wan
Wind Cold with Internal Heat Irritability, High fever, Severe chills, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, General sensation of tightness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Dry nose, Thirst, Insomnia, Cough of blood, Mottled skin... see more Shi Gao Tang
Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation Irritability, Fever without perspiration, Body pain, Thirst, Upper respiratory tract infections, Influenza, Purulent keratitis, Viral conjunctivitis, Sinusitis, Bronchial asthma, Viral pneumonia... see more Da Qing Long Tang
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat Irritability, Spontaneous sweat, Eye hyperemia, Dry mouth, Palpitations, Lower abdominal oppression, Painful urination, Excessive menstruation, Abnormal uterine bleeding, Tidal fever, Infertility... see more Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat Irritability, Intermittent upper abdominal pain, Hernia-Related pain, Dysmenorrhea exacerbated by hot food or drinks, Bitter taste in the mouth, Peptic ulcer, Chronic gastritis, Hepatitis, Cholecystitis... see more Jin Ling Zi San
Heat Excess in the Liver or Gallbladder Irritability, Short temper, Hypochondriac pain, Headaches, Dizziness, Red and irritated eyes, Hearing loss, Ear swelling, Bitter taste in the mouth, Painful urination, Swollen and itchy external genitalia, Foul-Smelling vaginal discharge... see more Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Excess-Heat Irritability, Fever, Flushed face, Red skin eruptions, Mottled skin, Thirst, Arthritis, Constipation, Scanty and dark urine, Lupus... see more Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency Irritability, Nighttime fever, Emaciation, Chronic pyelonephritis, Pulmonary tuberculosis, Renal tuberculosis, Tidal fever, Hot palms and soles, Red skin eruptions, Night sweats, Generalized fatigue... see more Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang
Heat invading the Pericardium Irritability, Fever, Restlessness, Feeling of uneasiness, Incoherent or confused speech, Loss of consciousness, Viral encephalitis, Meningitis, Pertussis, Measles induced pneumonia, Aphthous stomatitis... see more Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan
Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner Irritability, Lower abdominal pain, Nighttime fever, Incoherent or confused speech, Restlessness, Thirst, Amenorrhea, Menstrual cramps, Uterine fibroids, Retained placenta, Prolonged lochia... see more Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Damp-Heat in the Liver Channel Irritability, Vulvar itching, Yellow vaginal discharge, Painful intercourse, Restlessness, Insomnia, Dark urine, Excessive vaginal discharge, Foul-Smelling vaginal discharge, Sticky vaginal discharge, Vaginal itching... see more Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat Irritability, Toothache, Headaches, Loose teeth, Bleeding gums, Thirst, Stomatitis, Periodontitis, Glossitis, Trigeminal neuralgia, Bad breath... see more Yu Nu Jian

TCM Herbal Formulas for Irritability

Explore below some TCM herbal formulas used to address irritability, organized by cause and by formula type.

  • By Cause
  • By Formula Type
  • Heat
  • Qi Stagnation
  • Yin Deficiency

All Formulas Recommended for Irritability Caused by Heat

Formula Patterns Suitable For
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Heat in the Blood, Liver Fire Blazing, Heat Excess in the Liver or Gallbladder, Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire, Damp-Heat in the Liver Channel... see more
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San Heat in the Blood, Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat, Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire... see more
Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines, Stomach Heat or Fire
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang Heat in the Blood, Excess-Heat
Hua Ban Tang Heat in the Blood, Stomach Heat or Fire
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Da Qing Long Tang Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation
Jin Ling Zi San Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
Xiao Cheng Qi Tang Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
Bai Hu Tang Bright Yang Stomach Heat
Yin Chen Hao Tang Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
Qing Jing San Heat in the Blood
Liang Di Tang Heat in the Blood
Di Gu Pi Yin Heat in the Blood
Gu Jing Wan Heat in the Blood
Shi Hui San Heat in the Blood
Bai He Di Huang Tang Heat in the Blood
Qing Ying Tang Heat in the Blood
Qing Re Gu Jing Tang Heat in the Blood
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang Lesser Yin Heat Transformation
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan Liver Fire Blazing
Xie Qing Wan Liver Fire Blazing
Zi Xue Dan Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Feng Yin Tang Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency
Xuan Yu Tong Jing Tang Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan Heat invading the Pericardium
Ping Wei San Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation
Dang Gui Shao Yao San Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation
Qing Wei San Stomach Heat or Fire
Xie Huang San Stomach Heat or Fire
Fei Er Wan Stomach Heat or Fire
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner
Shi Gao Tang Wind Cold with Internal Heat
Yu Nu Jian Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat

Acupoints for Irritability

Explore below some acupoints used to address irritability, organized by meridian.

  • By Meridian
  • Liver Channel
  • Triple Burner Channel
  • Bladder Channel
Xingjian LIV-2

Xingjian LIV-2

Between the first and second toe, on the dorsum of the foot, 0.5 cun proximal to the interdigital fold.

Taichong LIV-3

Taichong LIV-3

On the dorsum of the foot, between the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones, in the depression proximal to the metatarsophalangeal joints and the proximal angle between the two bones.

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