Definition

An induced response to danger. It is characterised by shallow breathing, fast heart beat, emotional agitation and fear.

Accompanying signs & symptoms

Signs and symptoms of anxiety can be categorised into physiological symptoms and emotional symptoms. 

Physiological symptoms: fast and irregular heart beat, shallow breathing, fast speeches, general and accumulated in the body such as stiff neck and shoulders, unspecific back problems, fatigue, insomnia or poor quality sleep, food craving and binge eating, uncontrolled appetite, persistent hunger, sigh, weight gain, sense of bloating and heaviness, fluid retention

Emotional symptoms: agitation, impatience, worrying and thinking excessively, sense of fear and unhappiness, emotional tension

Possible Causes

Stress
Poor diet habit
Excessive caffeine use

Physiological Mechanisms

Stress and anxiety are very common conditions seen in clinic. They often present among various health problems including fatigue, insomnia, food cravings, poor digestions, depression, general unhappiness as well as irritable bowels. 

When a person is under stress either physically or mentally, the body produced large amount of adrenaline, corticosteroids as well as other stress related hormones. As the result, this rapidly increase the blood sugar level, blood pressure and heart rate. This is known as the fight or flight responses. Consequently, the person becomes agitated, restless and hyperactive. This is also known as anxiety. 

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. 

Furthermore, corticosteroids are natural hormones produced by the body to suppress the immune system to cope with stress. These hormones also cause the body to retain excessive fluid and result in rapid weight gain. This type of weight gain is known as fluid retention rather than typical weight gain. Thus, it is not responsive to typical dieting. 

Treatment Modalities

Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese herbal treatment for anxiety

Mechanism of action of the herbs used

Chinese medicine treats the condition by doing the following:
Reducing harmful hormones in the body such as cortisol and epinephrine 
Correction of hormonal imbalances 
Reducing physiological stress in the body
Reducing tension in the body
Promoting deep relaxation of the body
Calming the mind and body
Improve emotional wellbeing
Generating sense of happiness and harmony
Reducing fluid retention
Reducing food craving and binge eating desire

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