Classical Formula Treatment for Emotional Dysregulation in a 9-Year-Old Girl

This case involves a mother who sought my online consultation because she had experienced good results with my treatments and hoped I could help her daughter, who was suffering from episodes of emotional outbursts(Emotional Dysregulation). The girl is nine years old and currently lives in New Zealand. Since early childhood, she has frequently lost control of her emotions—screaming fits that often occur at night—causing her parents great distress. Although the situation improved somewhat as she grew older, she still has a very volatile temper: like an emotional ticking bomb, once triggered, it’s difficult for her to calm down. The parents have endured considerable mental strain over the long course of this problem.

Tongue observation revealed excessive upward movement of Liver qi and abundant Liver fire, accompanied by an exterior cold pattern as well as a degree of Spleen and Kidney deficiency. The treatment principle was to release the exterior, clear and soothe the Liver, strengthen the Earth (Spleen), and nourish Yin. I modified classical formulas such as Si Ni Tang and Chai Long Tang accordingly. After three weeks of treatment, her mother reported that the child was very willing to take the herbs, her mood had become much calmer, and any occasional mood swings she did experience she could now settle on her own. I advised them to discontinue the medicine and continue to observe.

Many parents never consider seeking Chinese medicine for this type of issue, leaving both adults and children in a state of ongoing suffering. In fact, from a TCM perspective, children’s constitutions are clear and responsive; with an appropriate prescription, resolving such problems is often far more straightforward than one might expect.

Case No. 098