Library

There are four visceral origins for the symptom of fear (Kong): First, the Kidney. The Classics state: "In the Zang organs it corresponds to the Kidney, and in the emotions it corresponds to Fear." It also states: "When Essence and Qi congregate in the Kidney, fear arises." Second, the Liver and Gallbladder. The Classics state: "The Liver stores Blood; when Blood is insufficient, fear arises." Dai Ren (Zhang Congzheng) said: "The Gallbladder represents courage; being startled or afraid injures the Gallbladder." Generally, excess in the Liver and Gallbladder manifests as anger and bravery, while deficiency manifests as propensity to fear and timidity. Third, the Stomach. The Classics state: "Stomach dysfunction leads to fear." Fourth, the Heart. The Classics state: "If the Spirit (Shen) is injured by fright, terror, and overthinking, the Spirit becomes damaged, leading to fear and loss of self-control." In the theory of Five Movements and Six Qi, a propensity to fear is generally attributed to the deficiency of Liver Wood. The Classics state: "When Wood is deficient, it is called 'Wei He' (Lax Harmony). In the era of Wei He, diseases manifest as tremors and fear."

There are three acupuncture approaches for treating a propensity to fear: First, select points on the Kidney meridian. The Classics state: "When the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian is disturbed, if Qi is insufficient, one tends to fear, feeling terrified as if someone were about to capture them. For deficiency, apply tonification; for cold, retain the needle." Second, select points on the Liver meridian. The Classics state: "Liver deficiency causes blurred vision and inability to see clearly, deafness, a propensity to fear, and feeling as if someone were about to capture them. Select points from the Liver meridian, along with its interior-exterior paired Jueyin and Shaoyang meridians." Third, select points on the Gallbladder meridian. The Classics state: "Patients with Gallbladder disease often sigh deeply, have a bitter taste in the mouth, vomit old bile fluids, experience palpitations in the epigastrium, and fear others capturing them. Select Yanglingquan (GB34)." It further states: "Frequent vomiting with a bitter taste, deep sighing, mental restlessness, and fear of being captured indicate pathogenic factors in the Gallbladder and rebellious Qi in the Stomach. Leakage of Gallbladder fluid causes bitterness; rebellious Stomach Qi causes vomiting of bitter fluid, hence termed 'Vomiting from the Gallbladder.' Select Zusanli (ST36) to descend rebellious Stomach Qi, then puncture blood collaterals of the Shaoyang meridian to arrest Gallbladder rebellion, subsequently regulating deficiency and excess to eliminate pathogens."

Case study by Zhu Danxi: Zhou Benxin, aged sixty, presented with robust constitution and vigorous Qi. Due to severe fright, he fell ill in January, experiencing inner insecurity, feeling as if pursued, restless sleep, and visual phenomena of firelight rising behind both ears. Although he could eat and drink, he lost his sense of taste, felt dry-mouthed, and had no appetite. Zhu Danxi prescribed Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), and Angelica Sinensis Radix (Danggui Shen) as sovereign drugs, Tangerine Peel (Chenpi) as minister drug, plus salt-fried Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) and prepared Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen) in small amounts, decocted and administered orally. The patient recovered spontaneously and stabilized within a month. The Classics state: "Fear injures the Kidney." Here, salt-fried Huangbai and prepared Xuanshen were used to guide Renshen and Danggui into the Foot Shaoyin collateral to tonify the Kidney. *Formulas from the Handful of Gold* (*Ben Shi Fang*), including Ginseng Powder (Renshen San), Poria and Spirit Calming Powder (Fushen San), and Gallbladder-Tonifying Wind-Expelling Decoction (Budang Fangfeng Tang), are all formulas for treating Gallbladder deficiency.