A physical means to process emotions
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01/14/2009
“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up – like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore – And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over – like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags – like a heavy lead” -- Langston Hughes
This is a quote from one of my favorite childhood novels, “A Raisin in the Sun”. The impact of this quote propelled me to seek out my passion and persevere in the face of challenges. Achieving a goal is never an easy road, but the alternative is much worse. Furthermore, when passion is non-existent in any aspect of a person’s life, their spirit is sick - Much like the physical body when we are facing an illness.
The Mind-Body-Spirit connection is very real and important to our health. From a medical perspective this connection can be seen through the “placebo effect”. A person can physically make their symptoms improve if they “believe” they are doing/taking something to help their physical body. There are many interesting works published by MD’s and psychologist linking diseases to certain emotions and thoughts generated by the person. The Chinese have believed this for thousands of years.
In Chinese Medicine there are five major organ systems. Each organ system correlates with an emotion. If someone experiences a particular emotion for too long or too intense it will directly affect the pertaining organ system. A recent example is Christopher Reeve’s wife dying of lung cancer. Many people couldn’t believe it, she never smoked a day in her life, nor was she exposed to second hand smoke. However, according to Chinese medicine it was very clear. The Lung system is affected by grief and worry. Mrs. Reeves had dealt with much grief over her husband’s injury, recovery, and death, not to mention the stress and worry in dealing with their situation. Unresolved emotions result in physical consequences in the body. Conversely, a physical condition can heighten certain emotions pertaining to that organ system. I have a patient with this exact phenomenon. My patient contracted Hepatitis C from his job. According to Chinese medicine and Western medicine this relates to the Liver system. About 3 months after being diagnosed he noticed he was losing his temper easily, felt constantly agitated and irritable and had to restrain himself with strangers and co-workers. This was not the norm for this previous easy-going fellow. In Chinese medicine, the liver system correlates to the emotions of anger and resentment. He first contracted the physical disease which led to emotional consequences.
Acupuncture is a way to deal with emotions on a physical level by opening up bio-electrical gateways to the body through specific points connected on meridian pathways. Many patients seek acupuncture for physical ailments such as: pain, digestive complaints, allergies, etc. However, the most powerful benefit is its ability to process emotions in the body to create a physical, mental, and emotional balance. To enable your spirit to guide you in your life’s passion, you must be in balance on all three levels.
To learn more about how acupuncture works on a physical and esoteric level, please visit my website: www.phytologymedica.com
