When The Emotional Becomes Physical

In my medicine, each of the energetic organ systems is linked to a particular emotion. (I discuss this frequently on my website blog, so if you'd like to know more, you can read about it at www.healingpointtherapeutics.com). We acupuncturists don't see a distinction between the emotional, mental and physical. An imbalance in an organ can affect the emotions, and an excess of a particular emotion can create an imbalance in the corresponding organ. It's a self-perpetuating cycle, and a delicate balance. 

• The Liver is both affected by and the cause of excess anger.  
• The Spleen is linked to rumination (or excessive, obsessive overthinking). 
• The Kidney has a connection with fear.  
• The Lung is associated with grief.  
• The Heart has a relationship with joy.  

Within each of us, one of these emotions tends to dominate. If this particular emotion is severely out of balance, issues may manifest in the following ways:

• If excess anger is a consistent theme in one's life, it results in an overall state of tension. The qi and blood do not circulate evenly, or may rise to the upper body. This type of person is prone to ulcers, migraines and hemorrhoids.
• If a person is constantly overthinking, the qi and blood can become stagnant. This may lead to poor digestion, heaviness and flabbiness.
• Those who are fearful tend to retreat within themselves. This isolation leads to a sort of hardening of the spirit, which can manifest physically into ailments such as arthritis, deafness and senility.
• If a person is consumed by sorrow, the qi becomes weak, which may lead to conditions such as asthma or immune system deficiencies. Alternately, the person may fight this sorrow by insulating themselves against the environment. If this is the case, the overcontrolling aspect of the personality may lead to constipation or frigidity.

It may sound strange to consider excess joy a problem, but again, everything in moderation. Excess joy can be a type of addiction. There are some types who crave higher and higher levels of stimulation in order to access this sense of joyful euphoria. This type of person is prone to excessive highs and lows. When they are up, they may be manic, mentally scattered or unable to sleep. When they hit a low, depression sets in. These constant highs and lows can lead to issues such as hypoglycemia, anorexia or schizophrenia.