Emotional Health & TCM

TCM addresses the mental, physical and the spiritual health of an individual. In TCM, the yin organs (heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney) are interrelated with the 'seven endogenous factors' or sometimes referred to as the 'seven emotions'. According to TCM, excess or insufficiency of particular emotional states may manifest as physical illness, as well as, internal disharmony of the organ’s Qi (pronounced ‘chee’) may manifest in the emotions. For instance, individuals with a diseased liver organ may predominantly manifest the emotion of anger compared to an individual with diseased lungs who may predominantly manifest the emotion of sadness or grief. On the other hand, long-term sadness or grief and constrained anger may lead to disharmony of the lung and liver, respectively.

It is important to understand that in TCM organ disharmony is reflected by disharmony of the organ’s Qi. The healthy state of Qi of the organs is based on Qi movement in a particular direction (upward, downward, or outward), thus forming the theoretical basis of the internal martial art of Tai Qi used to treat states of dis-ease and to promote health.

JOY is related to the heart, a state of disharmony causes the Qi of the heart to become scattered, typical signs of disharmony include outbursts of laughter with mental agitation, palpitations and cardiac pain;
ANGER is related to the liver, disharmony causes the Qi to rise and results in stagnation, typical signs of disharmony include a bitter taste in the mouth, hypochondriac and flank pain, vertical headache, and dizziness;
SADNESS or GRIEF is related to the lungs, disharmony causes the Qi to be dissolved, typical signs of disharmony include breathlessness, uncontrollable crying, and chest pain;
PENSIVENESS is related to the spleen, disharmony causes the Qi to be knotted, typical signs of disharmony include nausea, abdominal distention, diarrhea, and fatigue;
FEAR is related to the kidneys, disharmony causes the Qi to descend, typical signs of disharmony include urinary problems, lower back pain, memory and concentration problems.

In addition to western concepts of mental health disharmony (such as mild depression, hysteria, manic depression, and bipolar disorder) TCM mental health disharmonies also include addictions and insomnia (both hyper and hypo states).

Despite limited western research literature on the efficacy of TCM methods, you will find growing literature on the efficacy of ear acupuncture alone for treating smoking and drug addictions.
In ailments affecting the emotional health, or vice versa, acupuncture and herbal prescription can be effective and may take up to three months for treatment depending on the chronicity of the presented condition.

It is noteworthy to understand that TCM offers an understanding to the interrelations between the emotions and physical illness. Therefore, a TCM practitioner, should advice individuals with psychological trauma to seek or continue treatment with a professional in the field of psychology.
In search for natural therapy it is wise and to your benefit to consult advice from licensed practitioners in the field of expertise you are researching that may serve as a successful modality to enhance your well being. Self-medicating on natural herbs may serve as a possible and temporary solution to your chief complaint but on the long-term may complicate your condition from the perspective of an experienced practitioner. At Points of Life we make it our mission to provide you with honest and accurate information so to give you the choice on receiving the best method for improving and maintaining your health.

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