Anxiety is a Heart-Shen (spirit) disturbance. The Heart houses the Shen — when the Heart lacks nourishment (Blood/Yin) or is overheated (Fire), the Shen becomes restless. The Kidney (water to cool the Heart), Liver (emotional flow), and Spleen (energy for grounding) also play roles. TCM treats anxiety by restoring harmony between these organs.
1. Heart Blood Deficiency: Mild constant anxiety, poor sleep, palpitations, pale face, poor memory. 2. Heart Yin Deficiency: Hot, restless anxiety, night sweats, dry mouth, feeling 'wired.' 3. Heart Fire: Intense anxiety, agitation, red face, mouth ulcers, insomnia. 4. Kidney-Heart Disharmony: Anxiety with fear, lower back weakness, tinnitus, dizziness. 5. Liver Qi Stagnation: Chest tightness, sighing, mood-related anxiety, irritability.
Heart Blood nourishing: Jujube dates (Da Zao), longan, lotus seeds, wheat. Heart Yin nourishing: Lily bulb, pear, seaweed, sesame seeds. Heart Fire clearing: Bitter greens, celery, cucumber, mung beans. Kidney supporting: Black sesame, walnuts, seaweed. Liver soothing: Mint tea, green leafy vegetables, lemon. Avoid: Coffee (creates Heart Fire), alcohol, sugar (spikes and crashes), spicy food.
Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed): The #1 TCM herb for anxiety insomnia. Nourishes Heart and Liver Yin. Bai Zi Ren (Arborvitae Seed): Nourishes Heart, calms Shen. Yuan Zhi (Polygala): Calms Heart, opens orifices. He Huan Pi (Mimosa Bark): 'Collective Happiness Bark' — calms Shen, moves Liver Qi. Long Yan Rou (Longan): Nourishes Heart Blood and Spleen. Classic formula: Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) for Heart Blood deficiency anxiety.
HT7 (Shenmen): 'Spirit Gate' — the #1 anxiety point. Wrist crease, pinky side. Press firmly 3-5 minutes. PC6 (Neiguan): 'Inner Gate' — 3 fingers above wrist. Calms chest tightness and palpitations. Yintang: Between eyebrows — third eye. Extremely calming. CV17 (Shanzhong): Center of chest — relieves emotional tightness. KD1 (Yongquan): Sole of foot — draws anxious energy down from head. LV3 (Taichong): Between toes — releases emotional tension.
Morning: 5-minute meditation. Press HT7 upon waking. Warm breakfast (oatmeal with jujube dates). Midday: 10 deep breaths (4 in, 6 out). Lunch with cooling vegetables. Afternoon: Green tea (L-theanine calms). NO caffeine after 2 PM. Evening: Dim lights after sunset. Hot foot bath 20 min. Press Yintang and HT7 before bed. Journal: Write worries down to release them. Emergency: When anxiety spikes — press HT7 firmly, close eyes, breathe 4-7-8 pattern (in 4, hold 7, out 8) for 4 cycles.
SEASONS provides anxiety assessment with personalized Shen-calming protocols.