derive from the transgression of social or religious taboos or from having done something wrong
which is later regretted. People who are prone to blame themselves for everything that goes
wrong may also suffer an unjustified and subjective sense of guilt.

Guilt affects the Heart and Kidneys and it causes Qi to stagnate. It may cause stagnation of Qi in
the chest, epigastrium, or abdomen, and its clinical manifestations include an uncomfortable
feeling in the chest, epigastric or abdominal pain and distension and a Fine pulse. The tongue
will have a red tip and the pulse will be vibrating as it pulsates. The eyes will look unstable and
often flap shut while talking.

When guilt results from repressed anger, the pulse will be Wiry.

Aetiology of Mental-Emotional Problems

Emotional problems as discussed above are, of course, the main aetiological factor of
mental-emotional problems. There are, however, other factors: specifically constitution, diet,
excessive sexual activity, overwork and drugs.

Constitution

First of all, there is the constitutional make-up of an individual. This is influenced by inborn
characteristics or by factors developed in utero during pregnancy. In either case, the inherited
state of the nervous system plays a role in mental-emotional problems in later life.

For example, shock to the mother during pregnancy may affect the foetus and cause the
new-born baby to sleep fitfully, cry during sleep, open and close the eyes slightly during sleep
and sometimes develop fevers of unexplained origin. In such cases, the baby often has a bluish
colour on the forehead. If not treated, this will have repercussions later in life and affects the
Mind and Ethereal Soul.

An inherited weak nervous system is often manifested with a Heart crack on the tongue (Figure
9.4(229) and Plate 9.2(230), 9.3(231) and 9.9(232)).

This indicates that the person has an inherited weakness of the Heart which, however, may never
manifest unless other causative factors intervene later in life.

Diet

Diet plays an important role in contributing to mental-emotional problems. An excessive
consumption of hot-energy foods and drinks (including and especially alcohol) leads to Fire