What are the consequences of excessive anger?

Excessive anger is traditionally understood in TCM as contributing to the stagnation of Liver-Qi or Liver-Blood. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. When anger arises, it can lead to an internal buildup of Qi, causing it to become stagnant. This stagnation can manifest in various physical symptoms, with common repercussions being headaches due to increased pressure and tension in the head, as well as digestive issues resulting from the disruption of normal liver function which can impair the digestive process.

This conceptual framework is part of TCM’s holistic approach to understanding how emotional states influence physical health, linking the emotional disturbance of anger directly to the physiological functioning of the Liver. Thus, the correlation between excessive anger and conditions such as headaches and digestive problems is well established in clinical practice, where addressing emotional wellbeing is often vital for resolving related physical ailments.