Emotions as a Symptom of Physical Imbalance

Although emotions are natural and a part of what makes us human, there are emotions that are damaging if felt to an extreme level, or if felt for a prolonged period of time. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are five main emotions: joy, anger, grief, fear/fright, and pensiveness. ​

Each of the five emotions correspond to a certain organ system in the body: the heart, the liver, the lungs, the kidneys, and the spleen correspondingly. Each of these emotions are critical to human experience and necessary for the health of the body. But too much of one emotion can be a symptom of imbalance in its pertaining organ system. For example, we all have the friend or family member that overthinks everything! They are constantly worried and have their mind churning every minute of the day. These overly-pensive emotions are a signal that the Spleen organ system is imbalanced. Alternatively, a person that is highly irritable and snaps angrily at everyone may have an imbalance in the Liver organ system. ​

Excess or prolonged extreme emotions can cause a harmful effect on its corresponding organ system, as much as an imbalanced organ system can cause its corresponding emotion. For example, a surplus of alcohol will cause heat in the Liver, which can then manifest as anger. Likewise, anger will cause heat in the liver. If someone is experiencing both the physical and emotional manifestation of a certain organ system, it is sometimes difficult to decipher which came first.

But the beautiful thing about Traditional Chinese Medicine is that it doesn't really matter. Due to its holistic nature, both the physical and mental symptoms are simultaneously treated in acupuncture. Heat in the liver, whether its manifesting in extreme anger or in vertex headaches, can both be treated with the same points. ​

Why does this matter? The Chinese have long believed that if someone is experiencing a debilitating, chronic, or difficult emotion, it is simply due to an internal physical imbalance, and not necessarily a judgement on a person's character. Control over one's emotions is a highly esteemed trait in the Western world, yet the Chinese realize that the suppression of these intense emotions can be extremely unhealthy, and the person's character cannot necessarily be blamed for such feelings.

This phenomenon is simply a mirror for what is happening on a deep physical level. Another beautiful thing about Traditional Chinese Medicine is that there are dozens of points all over the body and many herbs that can influence the emotions. Some to subdue anger, calm the mind, release anxiety, heal depression, and open grief. Licensed acupuncturists are trained to use these subtle emotional clues as signs to the entire body's diagnosis and treatment. To better understand each emotion and its physical impact, below is a brief overview of the five emotions and the organ system that houses them. 

JOY
​The emotion of joy is related to the Heart. However this is a more manic type of joy, where one cannot control their overly-ecstatic thoughts, speech, or behavior. Think of the manic phase suffered by many in bi-polar disease, or the overwhelming feeling of winning billions of dollars in the lottery. This type of joy depletes the heart organ and the Fire element, exhibiting symptoms such as palpitations, heart attack, insomnia and unclear thinking. 

ANGER
Anger manifests itself in the Liver organ and the Wood element. Excessive anger makes your qi drastically ascend upwards to your head. That is why the physical symptoms of headache, dizziness, raised blood pressure, blurred vision, and red eyes are commonly associated with excess anger. 

FEAR/FRIGHT
Although fear and fright are different emotions (fright being more of an acute shock, while fear being a deeper and chronic feeling), both are considered to scatter or descend the qi. They belong to the Kidney organ system and the water element. Chronic fear can weaken the kidneys causing problems with urination (frequent, copious, or urgent urination), and can lead to indecisiveness and confusion. 

PENSIVENESS
Pensiveness, or overthinking, occurs when there is imbalance in the Spleen. The Spleen corresponds to the Earth element and is involved with digestion. Over-worrying and thinking tends to knot and stagnate the qi in your digestive organs (Spleen and Stomach). It's no wonder why you lose your appetite when you're extremely worried about something! Pensiveness can cause bloating after meals, loose stools, a sallow facial complexion, palpitations, and insomnia. 

GRIEF
Excessive grief is known to dissolve the qi and weaken the Lung, which corresponds to the metal element. If someone has been experiencing prolonged or intense sadness, such as the death of a loved one, it is common to see symptoms of asthma, coughing, excessive crying, frequent colds and flu, skin problems, and issues with circulation.