What does excessive pensiveness lead to?

Excessive pensiveness is linked to an over-concentration of thoughts, leading to emotional disturbances that impact the body's energetic flows. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this mental state affects the Spleen's function, as the Spleen is pivotal in processing thoughts and emotions.

When pensiveness becomes excessive, it can cause "knotted Qi," which means that the flow of Qi (vital energy) gets obstructed or stagnates. This stagnation can lead to the production of Dampness, a pathological factor in TCM often characterized by dullness, heaviness, and phlegm, which can manifest as physical symptoms such as fatigue, poor digestion, and a feeling of lethargy.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture the consequences of excessive pensiveness based on TCM principles. Overactive mind and insomnia may arise, but they are not direct consequences of pensiveness in TCM theory. Increased Qi flow and high energy (another option) contradict the idea of Qi stagnation resulting from overthinking. Lastly, enhanced clarity and focus is also not a typical result of excessive pensiveness, which generally leads to the opposite, a scattered and troubled mind. Thus, the immediate consequence of excessive pensiveness leading