Emotions and Chinese Medicine

part one - Let the Qi flow

Most of the time, we don't like it when sadness or anger arise. We feel our throat closing up, our eyes getting wet, our face getting red. We want that to disappear, so we usually block the emotion. We don't want it. We don't want to feel this way. However, it is really important to process these emotions when they come. It doesn't have to be a bad experience. Emotions can be smooth, or at least less painful, when we accept and understand them better. So what if we could make room for it when it comes? What if we could welcome the pain for a few minutes, let it express itself, and then release it? Could it be that simple? Just think about what would happen if we were simply letting it come... and go...

In Chinese Medicine, emotions are part of an organ system theory, the Five Elements. There are positive emotions, which are beneficial for us, and there are the "negative emotions", which can become pathological if we don't process them. This also includes "over joy", which is funny when we think that joy can cause problems. Following the Chinese Medicine philosophy, emotions are not ours. They come and go. They should just be considered as a disruption to our body and mind. They can be good in a sense that they often tell us when there is an imbalance in one of our organ systems. When an emotion isn't processed properly, then blockages happen. We want the five elements to flow properly in our body. If we ignore our emotions, they become tiny traumas and they leave footprints in our body. They start to create deficient or excess conditions. They disrupt the proper flow of Qi (our vital energy) and this is when diseases happen. It is really important to address the traumas and the emotions as soon as they appear, so we don't develop chronic pathologies because we denied what was happening emotionally. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to a professional. Acupuncture is a great way to deal with our emotions and help keeping our emotional balance in check.

I invite you to try to take a step back the next time an emotion rises. Let it come. Let it be expressed. Welcome it. Make room for it to be processed. Don't fight it. Feel it... breathe... and let it go...