In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, irritability is mainly associated with the liver, primarily manifesting as three syndromes: Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Fire Flaring Up, and Spleen Deficiency with Liver Overacting.
Liver Qi Stagnation
Symptoms include frequent sighing, distending or wandering pain in the chest and hypochondriac region. The causes of Liver Qi Stagnation are often due to depression, mental stimulation, or a history of psychological trauma.
Countermeasures: First, regulate the mind and emotions through mental cultivation and apply methods to address the root causes. In terms of diet, consume more foods that soothe the liver and regulate Qi, such as celery, chrysanthemum greens, tomatoes, radishes, oranges, pomelos, tangerines, citrons, and Buddha's hands.
Liver Fire Flaring Up
Symptoms include excessive dreaming with sleep, red and painful eyes, and a bitter taste in the mouth with thirst. The causes are often prolonged Liver Qi depression, excessive smoking and drinking, or overconsumption of sweet, greasy, and spicy foods.
Countermeasures: Besides quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and avoiding sweet, greasy, and spicy foods, it is advisable to consume more foods that clear the liver and purge heat, such as bitter melon, bitter herbs, tomatoes, mung beans, mung bean sprouts, soybean sprouts, celery, cabbage, bok choy, daylilies, rapeseed, loofah, plums, green plums, hawthorn, and citrus fruits.
Spleen Deficiency with Liver Overacting
Symptoms include fatigue, lack of appetite with abdominal bloating, distending pain in the two sides of the ribs, and loose stools. The cause is often a deficiency in the Spleen's function due to weak Spleen Qi and excessive Liver Qi affecting the Spleen's transportation and transformation.
Countermeasures: The focus should be on strengthening the Spleen and regulating Qi. In terms of diet, consume more foods that invigorate the Spleen and supplement Qi, such as hyacinth beans, sorghum, Job's tears, buckwheat, chestnuts, lotus seeds, Euryale ferox seeds, Chinese yam, jujubes, carrots, cabbage, pumpkin, and citrus fruits.