It’s that time of year again (finally!). . . the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the mercury is rising. After the cold and dark of winter – especially this winter! – we want to drop all of our extra layers and get outside, get some exercise, move ahead on our goals and projects, and feel expansive and free!!
But for all that stretch and momentum of Spring, it’s possible you’re feeling a little. . . stressed out. You might find that along with your desire to move forward, you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. Maybe the enormity of all you want to accomplish makes you anxious; maybe you want to get going and make things happen, but some frustrating obstacle (person, circumstance, MTA not running on time) is in your path. You might be so stressed out or frustrated that you’re feeling downright angry. But there’s good news: whatever stress, frustration or anger you might be feeling right now, it all makes sense. And the even better news is that acupuncture can help. Here’s why and how.
According to Chinese medicine (CM, or TCM for Traditional Chinese Medicine), each season is associated with a specific element (fire, earth, metal, water or wood); each element is associated with a specific internal organ; and each organ is associated with a specific emotion. The relevant correspondences for what is happening right now in April is as follows: the season of Spring is associated with the element of Wood, which is associated with the Liver, which is associated with the emotions of Stress, Frustration, and Anger. With a little explanation, we can make sense of many of these correspondences. Springtime is characterized by the growth of new plants and trees, which are Wood, and therefore represent the Wood element. The “wood” grows in one direction: toward the sunlight. If something obstructs the path of the of a tree’s growth, it will grow around it. (If it can’t, it can’t get sunlight, and, frustrated in its efforts, it will eventually die.) In CM, one of the Liver’s ascribed physiological functions is to promote “smooth flow”: that is, the smooth flow of qi/energy throughout the body, the smooth flow of blood, and the smooth flow of ALL emotions. Like the tree that always grows up to the light, the Liver assists in the smooth flow of whatever substance in its proper direction. Just as the tree will suffer if an obstacle is so great that it prevents it from reaching the light, a severe impediment to the Liver’s smooth flow results in stress, frustration, and anger.
While acupuncture is not going to make the obstacles move out of your way, or make the MTA run without delays, it CAN help alleviate your stress and anger. There are acupuncture points that help ease the Liver back into balance, as well as points that promote the smooth flow of qi, blood, and emotions. There are points that revitalize healthy Wood energy, enabling you to redirect your momentum back toward the light and AROUND the obstacles. . . so that you can STOP slamming your head into the wall that’s in your way! Acupuncture calms the sympathetic nervous system (our “fight or flight” response), and deepens our relaxation states, very effectively relieving stress. Therefore, since Spring is the season associated with stress, NOW is the best and most effective time to help relieve it through acupuncture!
- Spring & STRESS! Decompress with Acupuncture! - April 13, 2014
- Treating Trauma with Acupuncture: A Holistic Approach - February 11, 2014
