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Understanding emotions in traditional Asian medicine

 

What does irritability have to do with migraines? Fear with poor memory?

by Cathy Wong

 

In traditional Asian medicine, emotions and physical health are intimately

connected. Sadness, nervous tension and anger, worry, fear, and overwork are

each associated with a particular organ in the body. For example, irritability

and inappropriate anger can affect the liver and result in menstrual pain,

headache, redness of the face and eyes, dizziness, and dry

mouth.

 

 

The traditional Asian diagnosis is highly individualized; once an organ system

is identified, the unique symptoms of the patient determine the practitioner's

treatment approach. Using the liver again as an example, breast distension,

menstrual pain, and irritability during menses are treated with certain herbs

and acupuncture points, and migraines headaches, dizziness, and inappropriate

anger with redness of the face point to a

different type of liver pattern and is treated in a different way.

 

 

What does the liver have to do with migraine headaches? Organ systems in the

traditional Asian sense may include the Western medical-physiological function,

but are also part of a holistic body system. The liver, for example, ensures

that energy and blood flow smoothly throughout the body.

It also regulates bile secretion, stores blood, and is connected with the

tendons, nails, and eyes. By understanding these connections, we can see how an

eye disorder such as conjunctivitis might be due to an imbalance in the liver,

or excess menstrual flow may be due to dysfunction in the

liver's blood-storing ability. Besides emotions, other factors such as dietary,

environmental, lifestyle, and hereditary factors also contribute to the

development of imbalances.

 

 

SPLEEN

 

 

· Emotions: worry, dwelling or focusing too much on a particular

topic, excessive mental work

 

 

· Spleen Function: Food digestion and nutrient absorption. Helps in the

formation of blood and energy. Keeps blood in the blood vessels. Connected with

muscles, mouth, and lips. Involved in thinking, studying, and memorization.

 

 

· Symptoms of Spleen Imbalance: Tired, loss of appetite, mucus discharge, poor

digestion, abdominal distension, loose stools or diarrhea. Weak muscles, pale

lips. Bruising, excess menstrual blood flow, and other bleeding disorders.

 

 

LUNG

 

 

· Emotions: grief, sadness, detached.

 

 

· Lung Function: Respiration. Forms energy from air, and helps to distribute it

throughout the body. Works with the kidney to regulate water metabolism.

Important in the immune system and resistance to viruses and bacteria. Regulates

sweat glands and body hair, and provides moisture to the skin.

 

 

· Symptoms of Lung Imbalance: Shortness of breath and shallow breathing,

sweating, fatigue, cough, frequent cold and flu, allergies, asthma, and other

lung conditions. Dry skin. Depression and crying.

 

 

LIVER

 

 

· Emotions: anger, resentment, frustration, irritability, bitterness, " flying

off the handle " .

 

 

· Liver Function: Involved in the smooth flow of energy and blood throughout the

body. Regulates bile secretion, stores blood, and is connected with the tendons,

nails, and eyes.

 

 

· Symptoms of Liver Imbalance: breast distension, menstrual pain, headache,

irritability, inappropriate anger, dizziness, dry, red eyes and other eye

conditions, tendonitis.

 

 

HEART

 

 

· Emotions: lack of enthusiasm and vitality, mental restlessness, depression,

insomnia, despair.

 

 

· Heart Function: Regulates the heart and blood vessels. Responsible for even

and regular pulse. Influences vitality and spirit. Connected with the tongue,

complexion, and arteries.

 

 

· Symptoms of Heart Imbalance: Insomnia, heart palpitations and irregular heart

beat, excessive dreaming, poor long-term memory, psychological disorders.

 

 

KIDNEY

· Emotions: fearful, weak willpower, insecure, aloof, isolated.

· Kidney Function: Key organ for sustaining life. Responsible for

reproduction, growth and development, and maturation. Involved with lungs in

water metabolism and respiration. Connected with bones, teeth, ears, and head

hair.

· Symptoms of Kidney Imbalance: Frequent urination, urinary

incontinence, night sweats, dry mouth, poor short-term memory, low back pain,

ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and other ear conditions. Premature grey

hair, hair loss, and osteoporosis.

 

 

References

1. Kaptchuk TJ. The Web That Has No Weaver. Chicago: Congdon and Weed, Inc.,

1983.

2. Tierra M, Tierra L. Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine Volume

http://altmedicine.about.com/library/weekly/aa020601a.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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