What Emotions Affect Different Organs in the Human Body?

According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), emotions affect different organs in the human body. As such, treating organs can improve emotional health, and treating emotions can improve organ health.

Joy

• According to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, in TCM joy means being agitated or over-excited. Joy is related to the heart and correlated with heart palpitations, repeated agitation and insomnia.

Anger

• Anger includes resentment, frustration and irritability. According to TCM, an excess of rich blood makes you prone to anger. Anger can affect the liver, causing headaches or dizziness.

Sadness and Grief

• Grief is related to the lungs. The lungs are believed to distribute qi (life force) throughout the body, meaning that unresolved grief can lead to fatigue and to problems with energy in general.

Thinking and Worry

• The mental stimulation caused by overthinking and worry can affect the spleen, causing fatigue, lethargy and difficulty concentrating.

Fear

• Chronic fear or deep anxiety impairs the kidneys' ability to hold qi, possibly causing involuntary urination.