To Your Health
August, 2008 (Vol. 02, Issue 08) |
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Emotions - Focusing on the heart and mental functions: The heart not only provides the pumping force behind moving the blood in the body, but also guides the emotions. When we experience separation, we have heartbreak; when we experience extreme happiness, our heart leaps with joy.
The heart represents the fire element that, like our emotions, can burn brightly or barely flicker. The balance between the five emotions (joy, grief, worry, fear and anger) can be reflected in our physical state with palpations and rapid heartbeat, but it also can affect our ability to think clearly and sleep.
The emotional component of illness often is overlooked in Western medicine. Patients who suffer from depression and sadness often recover slower from illness and trauma compared to those who feel supported and loved. Balancing your emotions to help maintain health might be as easy as expressing what you feel in writing, speech, art or music. In situations of anger and fear, you might need to examine how you can change your response so you truly can see why you're acting the way you are.
Much like Western medicine's idea of heart disease, whereby stationary blood leads to problems, emotions that don't flow smoothly like water and are held in place prevent us from moving forward in life. The heart circulates blood to the brain to aid our mental ability. Challenging ourselves with new puzzles, adventures and even new forms of physical activity eases the mind and stimulates new thoughts and memories.
Spirit - Focusing on the kidneys and your vital essence: The kidneys have a similar function in both Eastern and Western medicine: filtering water and waste. The movement of qi (the body's energy) flows like water, gaining momentum from the smallest spring to the deepest ocean. The kidneys, represented by the water element, sort our life experiences at each stage of life, guiding us toward who we are - physically, spiritually and emotionally.
The kidneys also are where our vital energy stems from, which keeps us going from the day we are born to the day we die. The equivalence of genetic material that was passed on to us and that we pass on to our children comes from the kidneys. It's like the power plant that supplies us our energy and provides us our inner physical strength through the skeletal system. In fact, supporting the kidneys in acupuncture and with Chinese herbal medicine often is the groundwork for the rest of a treatment.
Strengthening your kidneys can be done in many ways beyond drinking plenty of water. Exercise that builds endurance and stamina, along with meditation, reflection and deep breathing, all help build essence. Forms of mixed martial arts also have traditionally been used in this way. However, increasing popularity and interest in slower arts such as tai chi and qigong also can help improve fortitude, balance and coordination. Strengthening our physical body and spirit helps us face our fears and the mysteries of the unknown throughout life.
