Definition

Eating disorder, food craving or binge eating habit caused by anxiety and stress or other hormonal changes such as pre-menstrual tension (pms/pmt)

Accompanying signs & symptoms

Key symptoms: uncontrolled appetite, frequent hunger, binge eating, food craving and food obsession

Accompanying symptoms include: irritability, impatience, easily agitated, emotional fluctuation, stress, depression, easily fatigue, poor energy

Possible Causes

Physiological stress and anxiety in the body
Depression
Hormonal changes

Physiological Mechanisms

When a person is under stress, the body produced large amount of adrenaline and corticosteroids. As the result, this rapidly increase the blood sugar level, blood pressure and heart rate. With time, as the blood sugar drops, it creates an urge for sugar or energy boost. Thus the person experiences hunger and craving for foods. 

If the person is constantly under stress, these stress hormones stay in the body for a long time resulting in a vicious cycle of food craving and binging.

Treatment Modalities

Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese herbal treatment for binge eating, Chinese herbal treatment for food craving

Mechanism of action of the herbs used

Chinese medicine treats the condition by doing the following:
Reducing harmful hormones in the body
Correction of hormonal imbalances 
Reducing physiological stress in the body
Promoting deep relaxation of the body
Calming the mind and body
Reduce anxiety and stress
Reduce depression
Reduce food craving and suppress appetite

Health Advice

Reducing the intake of caffeine and cigarette smoking
Eat a balance diet
Establishing a regular eating habit
Encouraging moderate, regular and outdoor exercises

References

Longman concise medical dictionary, 1994

Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ou Ming, 1995