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Jing (Fright) refers to the sudden beating of the heart accompanied by restlessness. Ji (Palpitation) refers to the beating of the heart with fear of being startled. Zhengchong (Severe Palpitation) also refers to the beating of the heart with restlessness.

[Zhu Danxi] Zhengchong generally belongs to Blood Deficiency and Phlegm-Fluid retention. Cases that occur upon thinking belong to Deficiency; cases that come and go are due to Phlegm stirred by Fire. Thin people mostly suffer from Blood Deficiency, while fat people mostly suffer from Phlegm-Fluid retention. Those who truly feel their heart beating have a lack of Blood and should use formulas such as Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) or Anshen Wan (Calming the Spirit Pill).
Treating severe deficiency palpitation caused by overwork.
Cinnabar (1 qian) Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui Shen) Paeoniae Alba Radix (Baishao) Platycladi Cacumen (Cebaiye) Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) (each 5 qian) Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi) Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) (each 3 qian)
The above herbs are processed into pills using pig heart blood as the binder.

[Li Dongyuan] If all six pulses are large but empty upon pressure, there will be a red face, susceptibility to fright, and heat in the upper body; this is the pulse of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian. This indicates excessive Qi and depleted Blood. Use sweet-cold and heavy-settling agents to drain Fire and Qi, to suppress floating Qi, and use sweet-acrid-warm and slightly bitter-strong tonics to strongly tonify Blood, such as Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shudihuang), Rehmanniae Radix Recens (Shengdihuang), Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma), Paeoniae Alba Radix (Baishaoyao), Moutan Cortex (Mudanpi), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), etc., to tonify it, preventing Blood from overflowing and exhausting upwards. (Sweet-cold heavy-settling agents refer to substances like Cinnabar.)

[Du Qingbi] Scholar Lin was originally from the South and served as an official inland. He had a son who was very dignified and intelligent, dearly loved by his parents. He usually enjoyed eating sea clams, which were always present during meals. At eighteen years old, his complexion suddenly turned blue-black, he became emaciated, and suffered from frequent nocturnal palpitations. Everyone considered it a consumption disease (Laozai), but hundred treatments failed to cure him. Du Qingbi was summoned to take his pulse and said, "This is not a disease." How do I know? Although he is emaciated and has a blue-black complexion, his spirit is unimpaired. Asking the scholar son what he likes to eat most, he replied, "Mostly flavors from the South China Sea." Du Qingbi said, "Just take more fluids-generating medicines, and the illness will heal itself." After two months, his complexion gradually showed signs of ruddiness, and there were no longer nocturnal palpitations. Scholar Lin invited Du Qingbi to ask, "I have long heard your reputation as a physician; I wish to hear the reasoning behind this illness." Du Qingbi said, "Wang Bing in his commentary on the *Suwen* states that salt induces thirst, which is a sign of overcoming Blood. Seafood is salty; excessive consumption causes Heart Blood to gradually decline, leading to nocturnal palpitations. Now that the salty taste is removed and fluids-generating medicines are used, and since the person is young and strong, Blood is easily generated, and the complexion becomes ruddy. With the removal of this ailment, peace is restored." The other physicians thought it was consumption, not this treatment.

[Zhang Zhongjing] Eating little and drinking much causes Water to stagnate below the Heart; severely, this leads to palpitations; mildly, it leads to shortness of breath. (Drinking too much water inevitably causes palpitations below the Heart.)

[Chen Wuze] When the five types of Fluids accumulate and block the Middle Jiao, it most easily causes fright and palpitations; this belongs to those with Fluid retention.
Wendan Tang (Warm the Gallbladder Decoction) treats deficiency and timidity of the Heart and Gallbladder, where one is easily frightened by events, or dreams of inauspicious things, leading to a frightened heart and gallbladder, Qi stagnation generating Phlegm-Saliva, and the phlegm-saliva battling with Qi, transforming into various symptoms. Or shortness of breath, palpitations, and fatigue, or spontaneous sweating. (When the Gallbladder is deficient and cannot control the Spleen, Spleen Fluid retention arises.)
Pinellia Tuber (Banxia, washed with ginger juice) Bamboo Shavings (Zhuru) Immature Bitter Orange (Zhishi, stir-fried) (each 2 liang) Tangerine Peel (Chenpi, 2 liang, remove white pith) Licorice Root (Gancao, honey-fried, 1 liang) Poria (Fuling, 1.5 liang)
The above are cut into decoction pieces. Take 4 qian per dose, add 1.5 sheng of water, 5 slices of fresh ginger, and 1 jujube, decoct until 0.7 sheng remains, strain, and take before meals.

[Zhang Zhongjing] For palpitations below the Heart, Banxia Mahuang Wan (Pinellia and Ephedra Pill) is the primary treatment.
Pinellia Tuber (Banxia) Ephedra Stem (Mahuang) (equal parts)
The above two ingredients are powdered, mixed with refined honey, and formed into pills the size of small beans. Take 3 pills with water, three times a day.
Fuling Gancao Tang (Poria and Licorice Decoction) (See Palpitation in Shanghan for formula.)

[*Suwen*] The color of the East is green, entering through the Liver. Its disease manifests as fright and terror. (*Jinkui Zhenyan Lun*)
If Heat transfers from the Spleen to the Liver, it results in fright and epistaxis. (Full text see Disease Transmission in Diagnosis.)
When Yi Yang and Yi Yin are affected, the main symptoms are fright, terror, back pain, frequent belching, and yawning; this is named Fengjue (Wind Revolving). (Full text see Diagnosis.)
San Yang and Yi Yin: Taiyang pulse prevails, Yi Yin cannot cease, internally disturbing the Five Zang organs, externally manifesting as fright and terror. (*Yinyang Leilun*)

[*Lingshu*] Zhenzhen Wan and Duhuo Wan both treat nocturnal fright, palpitations, and frequent nightmares. (Both formulas see Nocturnal Restlessness. The Classic says: When lying down, Blood returns to the Liver. Now if Blood does not settle and return to the Liver during sleep, it causes fright and palpitation at night.)

[Zhang Yuansu] Qianghuo Shengshi Tang (Notopterygium Decoction to Overcome Dampness) treats nocturnal fright, palpitations, nightmares, and enuresis; the pathogen is in the Shaoyang and Jueyin meridians. Add Chaihu 5 fen. If strangury, add Ze Xie 5 fen. This is Wind-Cold in the Lower Jiao affecting both meridians. The Classic says: Diseases of the Kidney and Liver share the same treatment because they are both in the Lower Jiao; non-Wind herbs cannot circulate the meridians. (Qianghuo Shengshi Tang see Low Back Pain.)
Various pains, soreness, fright, and terror all belong to Fire. (Full text see Diagnosis.)

[Zhu Danxi] Illnesses originating from fright cause the Spirit to leave its residence. If the empty residence receives Fluids, Phlegm forms. If Qi and Blood enter the residence, Phlegm repels them, and the Spirit cannot return. (Use Kongyan Dan added with Chen Sha and Yuanzhi.)

[Chen Wuze] Fright and palpitation caused by sudden great fright is named Xin Jing Dan Han (Heart Fright and Gallbladder Cold), located in the Heart and Gallbladder meridians. The pulse is Da Dong (Large and Trembling) (the Artery pulse resembles a bean, trembling without head or tail). Li Dongyuan's Zhusha Anshen Wan (Cinnabar Calming the Spirit Pill) (See Irritability section. Li Dongyuan says: External fright requires settling; Pingyi Huanglian Anshen Wan is an example.)
Zhenxin Dan (Settle the Heart Pill) treats fright and palpitation.
Chen Sha (Cinnabar, soaked in Huang Songjie wine) Longgu (Dragon Bone, boiled in vinegar with Yuanzhi seedlings)
Take only equal parts of Chen Sha and Longgu, powder them. Form pills using pig heart blood, the size of Euryale Seed (Qianshi). Take one pill at a time, decoct with Ophiopogon Leaf (Maodongye), Mung Bean (Lvdou), Juncus Effusus (Dengxin), and White Honey in water until the beans are cooked, and swallow before bed. For children, grind half a pill and administer according to age.

[World Physicians] Mituoseng San (Lead Monoxide Powder) treats fright Qi entering the Heart collaterals causing inability to speak. Previously, people frightened by wild wolves or large snakes were calmed by this.
Grind Mituoseng (Lead Monoxide) into extremely fine powder, mix with tea, take 1 qian bi per dose, cured after one dose.

[Chen Wuze] Hanshuishi San (Calcite Powder) treats major illness caused by fright disrupting Qi flow, leading to stagnation, Phlegm-Saliva formation, and Fluid retention, resulting in profound palpitations and inability to bear oneself. It flares up upon slight fright and is especially suitable for this condition.
Hanshuishi (Calcite) Huashi (Talcum, water-ground) (each 1 qian) Sheng Gancao (Raw Licorice, 1 qian)
Powder the above. Take 2 qian per dose. For heat, take with fresh well water; for cold deficiency, take with Ginger-Jujube decoction. Adding a little Longdan Cao (Gentian Root) is even better.

[Zihe] The wife of Wei Dexin stayed in a room upstairs. At night, robbers raided and burned the house; she fell off the bed in fright. Since then, every sound made her faint from fright. Family members walked on tiptoes, daring not make noise. Physicians treated it as Heart disease with Ginseng, Pearl, and Dingzhi Wan, all ineffective. Dai Ren examined her and diagnosed: "Fright is Yang, coming from outside; Fear is Yin, arising from within. Fright is unknown to the self; Fear is known to the self. The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian belongs to Liver Wood. The Gallbladder is courage; fright injures the Gallbladder." He ordered attendants to hold her hands, sit her on a high chair, and place a small table in front. Dai Ren said, "Lady, look at this." He struck the table violently with wood. The woman was greatly frightened. Dai Ren said, "I hit the table with wood, why be frightened?" After a pause, he struck again, and the fright subsided slightly. Soon after, he struck three or five times continuously, then struck the door with a staff, and secretly had someone strike the window behind her. Gradually, her fright settled, and she sighed, "What kind of treatment is this?" Dai Ren said, "*Neijing* says, 'Treat fright with normalization.' Normalization means familiarity; familiar things do not cause fright." That night, he had people strike her doors and windows from dusk till dawn, and she slept soundly without hearing. Fright causes the Spirit to ascend; striking from below makes her look down, thus gathering the Spirit. After one or two days, even thunder did not frighten her. Dexin, who previously disliked Dai Ren, respected him for life thereafter.

[Zhang Zhongjing] Zhigancao Tang (Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction) treats irregular pulse (Jiedai) with palpitations. (Formula see Shanghan.)

[Zhu Danxi] For fright and palpitation, Dingzhi Wan added with Hupo (Amber) and Yujin (Curcuma Aromatica Rhizome).

[Chen Wuze] Dingzhi Wan (Stabilize Spirit Pill) treats Heart Qi deficiency, fright, palpitations, and timidity.
Shichangpu (Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome, stir-fried) Yuanzhi (Polygala Root, remove heart) Fuling (Poria) (each 2 liang) Renshen (Ginseng Root, 1 liang) Chen Sha (Cinnabar, as coating)
Powder the above, form pills with honey the size of Sophora Seeds (Tongzi). Take 50 pills per dose with Rice Decoction. Another prescription removes Shen (Poria with Hostwood), named Kaixin San (Open Heart Powder), take 2 qian bi, as needed.

[*Lingshu*] Anshen Zhenxin (Calms the Spirit and Settles the Heart) treats fright and palpitation, dissipates Wind-Phlegm. Chen Sha Yuanzhi Wan (Cinnabar and Polygala Pill).
Shichangpu (Acorus) Yuanzhi (Polygala) Renshen (Ginseng) Fushen (Poria with Hostwood) Chuanxiong (Ligusticum) Shanyao (Dioscorea) Tie Fen (Iron Powder) Maidong (Ophiopogon) Tianma (Gastrodia) Banxia (Pinellia) Nanting (Arisaema) Baifuling (White Poria, raw) (each 1 liang)
Xixin (Asarum) Chen Sha (Cinnabar) (each 0.5 liang)
Powder finely. Take juice from 5 liang of fresh ginger, mix with water to cook into a paste for pills, size of mung beans. Coat separately with Cinnabar. Take 25 pills at night with Ginger Decoction. Reduce dose for children.
Fuling Wan (Poria Pill)
Shichangpu (Acorus) Chen Sha (Cinnabar) Renshen (Ginseng) Yuanzhi (Polygala) Fuling (Poria) Zhen Tie Fen (True Iron Powder) Fushen (Poria with Hostwood) Nanting (Arisaema, prepared with ox bile) Banxia Qu (Pinellia Fermented Dough) (equal parts)
Powder finely. Take juice from 4 liang of fresh ginger, mix with water to cook into a paste for pills, size of Sophora seeds. Coat separately with fine powder, dry. Take 10 pills, increase to 20, at night with Ginger Decoction.
The above two formulas are effective for treating fright.
When the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian is moved, disease occurs. Hearing wooden sounds causes sudden fright and desire to move.

[*Suwen*] What Yangming refers to as "severely fearing people and fire, and being suddenly frightened by wooden sounds" is due to the struggle between Yang Qi and Yin Qi, and the aversion of Water and Fire, hence the sudden fright. (*Maijie Pian*) Yellow Emperor asked: When the Foot-Yangming Meridian is diseased, fearing people and fire, being suddenly frightened by wooden sounds, but not moved by bells and drums, why does one startle at sound? Qibo said: Yangming is the Stomach Meridian; the Stomach is Earth. Thus, frightening at wooden sounds is because Earth fears Wood. (*Yangming Maijie Pian*)
Phlegm-Fluid palpitations belong to Spleen Earth. (See Phlegm-Fluid section above.)

There are three types of Yunqi (Six Qi) related to fright and palpitations:
First, Liver Wood is insufficient, Metal attacks it. The Classic says: Insufficient Wood is called Weihe; in the cycle of Weihe, fright and terror erupt. Also: Rebound of Yangming enters the Liver, causing fright, terror, and tendon spasms.
Second, Fire Evil assists the Heart. The Classic says: Where Shaoyang arrives, there is confusion and fright. Also: Where Shaoyang arrives, there is agitation and fright. Also: Victory of Shaoyang leads to ease of fright.
Third, Cold Evil harms the Heart. The Classic says: Excessive Water year, Cold Qi spreads, causing vexation, irritability, and palpitations.

According to the Classic: When Yang Qi cannot open and close properly, Cold Qi enters, causing severe Fei (paralysis/atrophy), sinking into vessels causing Liu (fistula), lingering in muscle intervals, affecting Shu points and Qi transformation, transmitting as fearfulness and fright/terror; this is the fright/terror caused by Liu Chuang (fistula sores). The Shu point is the opening of the fistula sore; the pain causes Qi to linger in the muscle intervals, fearing touch and pain, thus transforming into a fearful heart internally, transmitting as fearfulness and fright/terror diseases.

[*Zhenjiu Ju Ying*] If the Heart beats burning hotly, drain Shaochong (HT9); moxibustion is immediately effective.

[*Jia Yi Jing*] For fright, sadness, unhappiness resembling falling, absence of sweat, dusty black face, hunger without desire to eat, Zhaohai (KI6) governs.
For Gallbladder cold, timidity, cold reversal, arm pain, fright with delirious speech, red face with weeping, Yemen (SJ4) governs. For fright, sadness, unhappiness, cold reversal with heat in calves and soles, full-face heat, dry throat and thirst, Xingjian (LR2) governs.

[*Suwen*] Liver pulse rushing and violent indicates having been frightened. (*Daqi Lun* Wang Bing notes: Wu means galloping, indicating rapidity.) Er Yang tension indicates fright. (Same source) When Bai (Metal/Lung) pulse arrives, panting and floating, upper deficiency lower excess, fright with accumulated Qi in the chest, named Feibi (Lung Bi) with cold and heat. (Full text see Masses, same below) Yangming choppy indicates accumulation disease and ease of fright.

[Zhang Zhongjing] Cun Kou pulse moving and weak: Moving indicates fright, weak indicates palpitation.

[*Mai Jing*] In diseases governed by fright, the pulse stops and returns; the patient's eyes do not turn, and they cannot exhale.

[Zhang Zhongjing] Diseases include Ben Tun (Running Piglet), vomiting pus, fright/terror, and Fire Evil; these four diseases all arise from fright.