A situation I encounter often in practice is individuals with perfectly “healthy” lifestyles on paper who still feel unwell, unmotivated, anxious and bloated. “I eat clean, I go to therapy and I get plenty of sleep but I’m always exhausted” is a common sentiment. Many are confused by the information they have learned about health because they do not feel any better. Then they encounter Chinese medicine. Within this paradigm our mental health is not based on brain chemistry.
The primary organs of TCM do not even include the brain, rather the most important balance is held between the spleen, lung, kidney, liver and heart, all organs that reside in the greater trunk of the body. These organs respectively allow us nourishment, surrender, purpose, direction and joy.
Somewhere along our technologically focused trajectory we became so enamored with the electrical brain that we forgot how to listen to our bodies. The mind over matter mantra, while helpful in learning new behavioral patterns, has become another way to dissociate from the aspects of our bodies that typically house shame. We think rather than feel our way into dietary choices and out of emotional discomforts.
“I read online that beans are good for you so I eat them every day even though they make me feel sick”.
“I figured out the reason I’m sad in therapy so now I can avoid crying and move on”.
We find words to describe the why without actually connecting to the what. Over-intellectualization has removed us from the guidance our body is meant to provide, causing us to live mostly in our heads. Overthinking in particular weakens the spleen, which is responsible for transforming the food we eat into nutrients and energy. Shoulder, neck, jaw tension and headaches all indicate being stuck in the upper body, disconnected from the intuition, pleasure, will power and fuel derived from the organs of the trunk and lower body.
Eventually a body not listened to will start to speak with pain. Acupuncture can begin the conversation with your body, one that is usually not based on words at all but sensations, emotions, connection, release and relief.
