Healthy Spirit, Healthy Body

Balanced mental health is the foundation of overall health and wellness according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). For many, chronic pain conditions, digestive problems, fertility & reproductive organ issues, headaches, TMJ pain, and even autoimmune conditions can all find their roots or triggers in imbalances in mental wellness. 

As the 6th century philosopher Liu Zhou stated: "If the spirit is at peace, the Heart is in harmony; when the Heart is in harmony, the body is whole; if the spirit becomes aggravated the Heart wavers, and when the Heart wavers the body becomes injured; if one seeks to heal the physical body, therefore, one needs to regulate the spirit first."

Source: Very Well Mind

As the above quote suggests, the Heart system in TCM is integral to mental and physical wellness. Moreover, the Liver system also plays a vital role when it comes to maintaining emotional wellbeing. In fact, all of the five main organ systems in TCM are affected by and are associated with particular emotions in excess. Please note, there are healthy levels of all emotions that need to be felt, reflected upon, and addressed. Suppressing or denying emotions is a guarantee for imbalances in the TCM organ systems.

TCM elegantly addresses imbalances in one or more organ system, treating physical, mental, and spiritual concerns simultaneously.

What are the causes of mental health problems?

Different people can go through similar experiences and respond very differently. There are many reasons for this. One such reason is the internal conditions of the person in question. Whether you have Qi Blockage, Blood Pathologies, Pathogenic Heat or Phlegm Accumulation will determine how your body, mind, and spirit react. More often than not, it is a combination of the conditions listed above. Let's take a look at each factor a little more closely.

Qi, Our Vital Energy

Qi is the vital force that animates & powers life, and when it disperses, life ends. Qi provides warmth, defends the body, moves substances, and transforms food & air into usable energy. When Qi is flowing and balanced, we are in a state of good health. When it is blocked, we feel stuck, frustrated, and experience more pain. When Qi is depleted, we feel tired and unable to take action.

TCM helps to move & build Qi.

Symptoms of Qi pathologies include:

-irritability, frustration, anxiety -depression, fatigue, insomnia

-IBS, acid reflux, bloating -frequent sighing & shortness of breath

-PMS, painful periods -fibromyalgia and joint pain

-migraines, jaw clenching -tight neck and shoulders

Blood, Our Spirit and Grounding

Blood is crucial for mental health as it "houses the mind" (Shen), providing nourishment for clear thinking, memory, and emotional stability. With ample Blood, the Spirit feels grounded, relaxed, and joyful. When deficient, we feel unsteady, as Qi rises. When stagnant, we can experience sharp, fixed pain.

TCM helps nourish & move blood; to balance & restores calm.

Symptoms of Blood Pathologies:

-depression, anxiety -difficulty falling asleep, fatigue

-poor memory & concentration -uterine fibroids, endometriosis

-dry skin, hair, eyes, or brittle nails -dizziness or lightheadedness

-stabbing pain worse at night -cold hands and feet

Pathogenic Heat, Burning from the Inside Out

Source: Very Well Mind

Healthy heat in the body is a result of robust and balanced Yang energy. However, chronic stress, emotional issues, and overwork can lead to disordered heat. This can be due to too much Yang or too little Yin. Either way, heat flares up like a flame wrecking havoc on normal functioning.

TCM helps to dispel heat, & cool the mind.

Symptoms of Pathogenic Heat:

-irritability, agitation, rage -restlessness, anxiety, jumpiness

-feeling hot, flushed face, red eyes -migraines and headaches

-dry mouth, constipation -Mouth ulcers, bad breath, large appetite

-red skin eruptions, dry skin -night sweats, nightmares

Phlegm, A Barrier to Clarity

Phlegm is a pathogen in TCM which impedes clarity & free flow. Like swimming through slime or moving through quicksand, it makes us feel sluggish, heavy, and blurs our vision. It can be a result of grief and poor digestion; it is closely related to Qi flow. TCM removes phlegm to ease free flow.

Symptoms of Phlegm Accumulation:

-mental fogginess/brain fog -depression, anxiety, mania

-physical and mental lethargy -bloating, poor appetite, sticky stools

-achy joint, swelling, heavy limbs -infertility, endometriosis, PCOS

-throat clearing, nasal congestion -headaches, pressure in the head

Good News

Different TCM modalities such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary counseling, Eastern bodywork, and qigong can help with all the causes and symptoms listed above. Because more than one will be present, it takes a skilled licensed practitioner to determine the best course of action. 

Root causes and symptoms are intertwined. So when you come in because of neck and shoulder tension, don’t be surprised if seemingly unrelated symptoms begin to disappear!

Learn More:

1. Chinese Medicine for the Mind: A Science-Backed Guide to Improving Mental Health with Traditional Chinese Medicine by Nina Cheng

2. How Emotions and Organs Are Connected in Traditional Chinese Medicine

3. Emotions and Traditional Chinese Medicine By Pacific College