As modern science catches up with ancient Chinese medicine, we are learning that the mind has an enormous impact on how our body looks, feels, and reacts. For example: in Chinese medicine, each organ system has its own emotion which can harm or heal it. Frequent anger is said to harm the liver first. Conversely, too much joy can injure the heart.
Modern medical research focuses largely on the stress response and how that can alter hormone production. While this is certainly valid, it is a tiny fragment of how our body reacts to our thoughts and feelings. Once we begin to pay attention to the signals our body sends us, we can more easily take action to nourish ourselves both mentally and physically.
A huge part of my job as someone who practices Chinese herbalism and massage therapy is to unravel these connections so that we can begin to build new pathways of emotions that nourish and harmonize. The herbs serve by directing themselves to the specific organs which need them, and massage helps to bring a mental awareness to the body's imbalances. This bodywork is an important aspect, creating a blank canvas on which to create your new masterpiece of health!
Below are the five main emotions and their corresponding organs and common ailments according to Chinese medicine. Keep in mind that the Chinese organs are not the same as what the west believes them to be. In Chinese medicine, these organs are purely energetic, not physical.
1. Anger- Liver, Gall Bladder. Element: wood. Folks with frequent anger often experience headaches, dry or burning eyes, Hypertension, PMS, neck and shoulder tension, throat problems, insomnia and tendinitis. They might have a hard time unwinding or letting go after a long day. Also, they might find themselves easily addicted to one thing or another.
2. Joy- Heart, Small Intestine. Element: fire. Here, joy can mean a couple of things. It could mean mania, which undoubtedly can damage one's heart. But, in milder terms it can refer to partying and overindulging. These emotions can lead to issues with metabolism, depression, circulation, hypoglycemia, hypothyroid, inflammation, stroke, and insomnia.
3. Worry- Spleen, Stomach. Element: Earth. In Chinese medicine, excess worrying is said to harm the digestion most of all. Folks who worry a lot might find themselves with sugar cravings, edema, diarrhea, low energy, and a build up of phlegm. One tell-tale sign of Spleen disharmony is that you will likely have indentations along the edges of your tongue.
4. Grief- Lung, Large Intestine. Element: Metal. Folks who experience grief on a consistent basis might feel a sense of dryness and problems breathing such as bronchitis or asthma. These folks might become hypersensitive to their environment regarding chemicals, smells, or allergens.
5. Fear- Kidneys, Bladder. Element: Water. Fear can invoke a whole plethora of bodily manifestations. Premature graying and aging, lower back pain, knee pain or weakness, frequent urination, edema, joint pain, night sweats, and insomnia.
Do any of these sound familiar to your health and emotional patterns? I would love to hear about it in the comments!