Chinese Medicine for Tics

In Chinese medicine, tics—such as involuntary muscle movements, twitches, or spasms—are signs that internal balance has been disturbed. These movements are often caused by “wind,” which may arise from heat, deficiency, or emotional strain. Each type of tic pattern has unique signs, causes, and treatments.

Wind Invading the Body

Common Signs

  • Sudden illness or sudden joint pain that moves around

  • Shaking or twitching of the limbs

  • Headache with a heavy feeling or fear of wind

  • Itchy skin, sneezing, or nasal congestion

  • Diarrhea with undigested food

  • Numbness in the face

  • Muscle stiffness or light cough

  • Dry mouth

Treatment Principle
Expel wind, transform phlegm, relieve spasms, and calm convulsions.

Herbal Formula: Wu-Hu-Zhui-Feng-San

Helpful Foods: Peppermint, spearmint, sweet basil, celery, coconut meat, green onion

Extreme Heat Generating Wind

Common Signs

  • High fever with sudden spasms or convulsions

  • Fainting or mental restlessness

  • Muscle tightness or neck stiffness

  • Twitching of the limbs

  • Dry, trembling tongue

Treatment Principle
Clear heat, calm the body, and stop convulsions.

Herbal Formula: An-Gong-Niu-Huang-Wan

Helpful Foods: Peppermint, spearmint, sweet basil, celery, coconut meat, green onion, chicken egg, bitter endive, camellia, cattail, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, banana, bamboo shoot, crab, water clam

Blood Deficiency Generating Wind

Common Signs

  • Dizziness or fainting

  • Muscle spasms or twitching

  • Numb hands and feet

  • Shaking of the limbs

  • Spots or floaters in vision

  • Ringing in the ears

  • Pain in the upper abdomen

Treatment Principle
Nourish the liver and kidneys, build blood, and stop convulsions.

Herbal Formula: Da-Ding-Feng-Zhu

Helpful Foods: Egg, mulberry, abalone, liver, cuttlefish, grape, milk, brown sugar

Simultaneous Deficiency of Energy and Blood

Common Signs

  • Dizziness and fatigue

  • Pale face, lips, and nails

  • Numbness in the limbs

  • Palpitations and insomnia

  • Low energy or weak voice

  • Light-colored bleeding

  • Poor focus or blurred vision

Treatment Principle
Strengthen energy to produce blood and nourish blood to support the muscles and tendons.

Herbal Formula: Ba-Zhen-Tang

Helpful Foods: Abalone, asparagus, cuttlefish, chicken egg, duck egg, white fungus, beef liver, grape, mandarin fish, oyster, milk, beef, cherry, blood clam, longan nut, maltose, Irish potato, sweet rice, apple cucumber, bog bean, gold carp, carrot, chestnut, ham, horse bean, hyacinth bean, Job’s tears, royal jelly, string bean, whitefish, yam, red and black dates, mutton, squash, rock sugar

Heart–Gallbladder Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Trembling or shaking triggered by nervousness

  • Bitter taste in the mouth

  • Depression or sadness with nausea

  • Dislike of light, preference for darkness

  • Easily frightened

  • Insomnia or restless sleep

Treatment Principle
Tone the heart’s energy, calm the gallbladder, reduce fear, and stabilize the spirit.

Herbal Formula: Gan-Mai-Da-Zao-Tang

Helpful Foods: Corn silk, cow’s gallbladder, shark air bladder, water spinach, abalone, asparagus, dried ginger, cinnamon

Tics in Chinese medicine are seen as signs of “wind” moving inside the body—whether stirred by heat, weakness, or emotional tension. Treatment focuses on calming the body, strengthening the organs, and nourishing the blood so that movement and energy flow smoothly again. By restoring balance, the body can quiet the spasms and regain control.