Ever notice a strange habit in yourself or someone else and just brush it off?

Be careful. Some of these aren’t quirks. They’re your brain’s way of waving a red flag.

And Traditional Chinese Medicine has a way to explain and heal them.

#1 The Skin Picker

Nail biting, skin picking, pulling hair may seem harmless. But in psychology this is known as Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) and is a form of Obsessive Compulsive Behavior.

What is happening is the brain is trading anxiety for a micro hit of relief.

And the cost involves more than physical scars and infections. Shame and feelings of helplessness are emotional pain that keep patient in deep suffering.

It’s not just stress. It’s your brain stuck in a self-destructive loop.

TCM Explains: The urge to move and in a repeated manner is associated with “excessive wind” in the body, especially at the Liver which is associated with all mental conditions.

Wind can be a standalone issue or combine with other factors like Heat or Dampness.

TCM Heals: Acupuncture points such as Feng Shi are helpful to calm the excessive wind in the body. Herbal medicines such as Radix Saposhnikoviae are often used in formulas to help ease the wind that stirs in the Liver.

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#2 The Hyper-Suspicious One

This group of people is constantly convinced people are plotting against them. This is not them just being careful. It is called paranoid personality disorder tendencies.

What happens is the brain rewires everyday signals into threats, forcing the person to live in a war zone where every look or laugh feels hostile.

TCM Explains: Suspicion is a kind of worry and the Spleen is associated with the emotion of worry and overthinking. Excessive rumination or worry can strain the Spleen, resulting in an imbalance referred to as "Shan You Si" (anxiety & preoccupation). This condition may lead to racing thoughts and challenges in concentration, which could foster a hyper-focused and suspicious mindset.

TCM Heals: Acupuncture points such as Zhong Wan are helpful to strengthen the digestive system which the Spleen and Stomach reside. Once the digestive system is strengthened, the problem of rumination and being overly suspicious of everything will ease off by itself. Herbal medicines such as Dioscorea polystachya are often used in formulas that soothe and give energy to the digestive system. This herb is also a root vegetable which is grounding by itself and energetically stabilizes the gut system.

#3 The Brick Wall

This person suffers from emotional blunting, when nothing touches them, not happiness, sadness, or even fear. This is highly common in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression. And sadly, this is not toughness. It’s the brain flipping the “OFF switch” on feelings to survive overload.

TCM Explains: When emotions are suppressed or linger for long periods in severe depression or too overwhelming in PTSD, they obstruct the normal physiological movement of Qi, causing various physical and emotional symptoms, including numbness. Emotional numbness and lack of emotional expression can be due to stagnation in Liver Qi or Lung Qi weakness. All these freezing and numbing responses are the body’s protective mechanism from pain in activation.

TCM Heals: Acupuncture points such as Tai Chong can help move the stagnated Liver Qi and Zhongfu can help nourish Lung Qi. Herbal medicines such as Radix Gentianae can move the circulation of Qi in Liver and Lung. Once the Qi in these two organs are in smooth circulation, the brick wall will collapse by itself.

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Further Reading:

Natural Alternatives or Chemical Drugs?

Everything you need to know about Dampness

Weight Gain from Digestion Induced Dampness

Ovarian Cysts and Dampness

Beautifully Broken

Be Imperfect