Emotions Are Symptoms
One of my favorite aspects of Chinese Medicine is how it was arguably one of the first advocates for the mind-body connection, something that has only recently gained traction in the modern health world over the past decade or so. Today, we have tangible evidence of this link: for example, the gastrointestinal tract produces approximately 90% of the serotonin, our “feel-good” neurotransmitter. And most of us are familiar with how prolonged stress and elevated cortisol can negatively affect our immune system, sleep, and digestion, to name a few.
In our fast-paced lifestyles shaped by work and social media, it’s almost a no-brainer now that our minds can affect how we feel physically. But did you know that in Chinese Medicine, the reverse is also true? Physical imbalances within our organs can directly influence our emotions. In fact, every organ system has a corresponding emotion that emerges when that organ is out of balance.
In TCM, organs are paired into five elemental categories. It might sound “woo-woo,” but the purpose of these pairings is simply to group organs with similar characteristics. Each element has unique traits, and yes, its own corresponding emotions.
Wood (Liver and Gallbladder) is associated with anger and frustration. Think of the stereotype of the angry drunk: alcohol is energetically “hot” and can create excess heat and inflammation, overburdening the Liver and Gallbladder and leading to irritability or rage.
Fire (Heart and Small Intestine) is associated with joy and excitement. We all know the feeling of a racing heart when we’re thrilled or happy: that’s Fire in balance. But when Fire is excessive or deficient, it can show up as anxiety, heart palpitations, or chest tightness. Anxiety, in this view, isn’t just “in the brain” but a sign of imbalance in Fire element organs.
Earth (Spleen and Stomach) is ruled by worry. When these organs are balanced, they govern digestion, of both food and ideas. But when weakened, patients often report overthinking, rumination, and worry, along with physical symptoms like slow digestion, nausea, acid reflux, heartburn, or abdominal pain.
Metal (Lung and Large Intestine) corresponds to grief and sadness. The Lung governs respiration and Qi distribution, while the Large Intestine is responsible for letting go, both physically and emotionally. When grief or depression weighs on the system, Qi weakens, leading to fatigue, shortness of breath, chronic cough, or constipation. Supporting these organs often helps resolve lingering grief.
Water (Kidneys and Bladder) is associated with fear. From a biomedical perspective, this makes sense since the adrenal glands (which regulate stress hormones) sit on top of the Kidneys. In TCM, the Kidneys hold our primal Qi, or the root of vitality and our sense of inner security. A striking example is seen in trauma: shock or sudden fear can trigger fight-or-flight and even involuntary urination. Clinically, fear often accompanies urinary frequency or retention, tinnitus, premature graying or hair loss, reproductive challenges, and chronic low back or knee pain (all tied to TCM Kidney function).
All of this is to say: our emotions are a crucial diagnostic tool in uncovering underlying health imbalances. They are not simply “unprocessed trauma” or negative thought patterns we’re expected to fix on our own. In fact, I would argue that emotions are often less under our conscious control than we’re led to believe. Don’t get me wrong, therapy certainly has its place. But sometimes addressing the imbalance from the inside out, by treating the affected organ, can naturally bring our emotions back into balance.
