» conventional diagnoses: mental illness; hysteria; manic and depressive psychoses; encephalitis; epilepsy; apoplexy; aphasia; speech or mental retardation in children; stroke sequelae
» etiology: combination of Disturbance of the Shen due to Heat and Obstruction of the Shen due to Phlegm; excessive consumption of hot greasy foods which produce Heat and Phlegm; progression of Heart Yin Xu (Deficiency); or may arise during some fevers by invasion of Pericardium by pathological Heat; severe emotional problems and depression leading to Qi Stagnation, which eventually turns into Fire
signs and symptoms
signs and symptoms:
agitated
aggressive manner
raving mania
hyperactivity
easily startled
hostility
emotional unrest
incessant talking
shouting
incoherent speech
laughing and crying without apparent reason
mental depression and dullness
muttering to oneself
in severe cases aphasia and coma
reddish face
bitter taste in mouth
» pulse: rapid; slippery; wiry, full or overflowing
» tongue: red with greasy yellow coating; midline crack with yellow prickles on it; tip may be redder and swollen with red points (Maciocia, p. 209)
course and prognosis
» principle of treatment: open the Heart; eliminate Heat in Heart; calm the Shen; resolve Phlegm to clear Heart and Sense Orifices; tonify Yin
differential diagnosis
footnotes