Anxiety — Chinese Medicine Hub
Anxiety in Traditional Chinese Medicine isn't a single diagnosis — it's a set of differential patterns centred on the Heart (Shen), Gallbladder, Liver, and phlegm-fire. This hub pulls together the full clinical picture: the structured condition page, the symptom-mapping quiz, and every named TCM pattern with its distinguishing signs, points, and formulas.
Start here
Condition page
Structured overview with patterns, red flags, contraindications, classical references, and cited sources.
Open anxiety disordersSymptom quiz
Map your timing, sleep, and body-sensation profile to the most likely TCM pattern in a few clicks.
Take the quizFull diagnosis
Run a complete intake and get pattern-ranked point and formula suggestions with classical references.
Start diagnosisCore treatment principle
Calm the Shen, tonify Heart and Gallbladder Qi, resolve phlegm, clear heat from the Heart
TCM differential patterns (4)
Every anxiety pattern currently in the Medi-Chi database. Each links back to the condition page, where you'll find the matching point prescription and formula in context.
Heart-Gallbladder Qi Deficiency
心膽氣虛
Easily startled/frightened, timid, indecisive — anxiety centered around fear and lack of courage
Signs
- easily frightened/startled
- timidity
- indecisiveness
- palpitations with anxiety
- sighing
- restless sleep
Liver Qi Stagnation with Heat
肝鬱化火
Anxiety mixed with irritability and anger; chest/hypochondriac tightness; worse with emotional triggers
Signs
- anxiety with irritability
- chest/rib-side tightness
- sighing
- bitter taste
- headache
- red face when agitated
Heart Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire
心陰虛火旺
Anxiety worse at night with palpitations, night sweats, and insomnia — signs of Yin deficiency with heat
Signs
- anxiety worse at night
- palpitations
- insomnia
- night sweats
- dry mouth
- five-palm heat
Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart
痰火擾心
Anxiety with chest oppression, nausea, dizziness, and thick greasy tongue coating — Phlegm signs prominent
Signs
- anxiety with agitation
- chest oppression
- bitter taste
- nausea
- dizziness
- feeling of something stuck in throat
Core Shen-calming points
Neiguan (PC-6) 內關
2 cun above the transverse wrist crease, between palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis tendons
Opens the chest, regulates Heart Qi, calms the Shen, harmonizes the Stomach
Shenmen (HT-7) 神門
At the wrist crease, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon
Calms the Shen, nourishes Heart Blood, clears Heart fire
Danzhong (CV-17) 膻中
On the anterior midline, level with the 4th intercostal space, midway between nipples
Regulates Qi in the chest, benefits the diaphragm, clears the Lungs, calms anxiety
Qiuxu (GB-40) 丘墟
Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus, in the depression lateral to the tendon of extensor digitorum longus
Tonifies Gallbladder Qi, benefits decision-making, clears Gallbladder heat
Representative formula
Wen Dan Tang 溫膽湯
Regulates Qi, transforms phlegm, clears Gallbladder, harmonizes Stomach
- Ban Xia (半夏) — Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious Qi, harmonizes Stomach · 6-9g
- Zhu Ru (竹茹) — Clears heat, transforms phlegm, stops vomiting, calms the Shen · 6-9g
- Zhi Shi (枳實) — Breaks up stagnant Qi, reduces accumulation, transforms phlegm · 3-9g
- Chen Pi (陳皮) — Regulates Qi, dries dampness, transforms phlegm, strengthens Spleen · 3-9g
- Fu Ling (茯苓) — Promotes urination, drains dampness, strengthens Spleen, calms the Shen · 9-15g