Emotions are all normal and part of being a human. But did you know every emotion can get out of balance and cause dis- ease? It is clear that too much anger and sadness is not healthy but did you know that too much joy is associated with the heart and can cause mania?

There is no separating the body and mind

For centuries Chinese Medicine has documented the correlation between emotions and health. When you look at the connections, it seems obvious. Eastern medicine is a completely holistic view of the human existence. There is no separating the body and mind. When it comes to our feelings, there can be a lack of emotion, excess emotions, stuck emotions or balanced emotions. Here is a list of the organ systems, associated emotions and element, real life examples of how our emotions manifest physically, and what a balance looks like for each organ system:

Earth, Spleen and Stomach, Worry, Grounding

Ex: Too much worrying causing diarrhea and stomach ache

Balanced Spleen energy creates pausing, and compassion, a healthy consideration for others.

Metal, Lung and Large Intestine, Grief, Consumes

Ex: Long term sadness that is not processed can cause depression and inability to function

When Lung energy is balanced, there is ability to move through loss and other changes and see them as necessary, not good or bad.

Water, Kidney and Urinary Bladder, Fear, Descends

Ex: Being suddenly frightened can cause incontinence

Having balanced Kidney energy gives the ability to know our limits and recognize real danger.

Wood, Liver and Gallbladder, Anger, Rises

Ex: Drinking alcohol, which taxes the liver, causes people to more easily become agitated, angry and confrontational.

Balanced Liver Meridian manifests as clarity and confidence.

Fire, Heart and Small Intestine, Joy, Expanding/Spreading

Ex: A wide, contagious smile that spreads to others.

A balance of Heart energy will show as a warmth, creativity and playfulness.

If you have an imbalance with any of these emotions, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be an important part of taking back your health. Learn more about acupuncture for mental health, including acupuncture for anxiety, and acupuncture for depression here. TCM techniques such as acupuncture are proven natural remedies for depression and alternative therapies for anxiety.

At Garden Acupuncture we help our patients through all of the emotions, rising, descending and everything in between. Our specialty is women’s health but we are here to balance all our fellow humans with everything from pain to insomnia. For more information about our office, click here.