STRESS AND RELAXATION

Stress is an inevitable part of life. Chinese medicine believes that stress affects the flow of Qi in the body, leading to stasis, excessive internal heat, and poor blood circulation. Long-term extreme stress may disrupt the delicate balance in the body and cause serious health problems.

The most common stress conditions include sleep disorders, anxiety, headaches, fatigue, indigestion, restlessness, high blood pressure, acne, loss of appetite or hyper appetite, decreased sexual function, and sweets and snacks. In some cases, chronic stress can also cause weight loss or weight gain.

Stress and digestive health

Stress will hinder the flow of qi and affect the function of the spleen, which will affect the conversion and transportation of digested food, leading to dampness in the body, which will develop into problems such as weight gain at a specific time.

Stress and shoulder tension

Shoulder tension is caused by constant mechanical stress, lack of exercise, incorrect work or sleeping posture, and emotional stress.

When pressure builds up and disrupts the flow of liver qi, the shoulder muscles will tighten and harden. Shoulder tension can cause shoulder pain, neck pain, and even headaches.

Principles and tips for the treatment of stress-related illnesses:

Traditional Chinese medicine can relieve stress through acupuncture, herbal medicine, and TuiNa massage therapy. However, it must be noted that the treatment must be determined according to the individual’s physique.

•Ensure the smooth flow of liver qi

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the liver helps regulate emotions. Therefore, if liver qi is interrupted, emotional disturbances such as depression, frustration, anger, emotional instability will occur. Therefore, ensuring the free flow of liver qi is very important for treating stress-related disorders.

Common herbs that promote qi movement include perilla stem, hawthorn, Ganoderma lucidum, chuanxiong, turmeric, tangerine peel, and shouwu.

Nourishing herbs such as Eucommia ulmoides, Ligustrum lucidum, Eclipta prostrata, black sesame seeds, and Dipsacus are suitable for the liver.

Acupuncture treatment helps to reactivate the circulation of the body, especially the circulation of stagnant liver qi.

•Clear internal heat or internal fire

Suppose Staying up late and having irregular eating habits put us under tremendous pressure. In addition, liver qi stagnation without treatment will produce internal fire, which can ascend to the head, disturb sleep, suppress appetite, or cause other disharmonies.

In these cases, the focus of treatment is usually on clearing the internal fire to restore balance. Herbs such as Shengdi, Asparagus, Schisandra, Gentian, Danshen, Scrophulariaceae, and Anemarrhena effectively removing inner fire.

•Soothe the nerves

When the mind is relaxed, the body will return to a state of harmony.

Acupuncture is one of the most effective treatments for stress. Acupuncture helps to soothe the nerves and relax the muscles.

Chinese herbs that help calm the nerves include Bai Siren, Poria, Oyster, Polygala, Schisandra, American Ginseng, Longan, and Lily.

• Nourish the mind

In the “Huangdi Neijing,” the heart is considered the chief of the viscera, the spirit, and it is in charge of consciousness and intelligence. Therefore, the heart’s health affects the spirit and causes emotional problems such as anxiety, insomnia, and palpitations. Therefore, ensuring a healthy heart is very important to maintain emotional balance.

Bai Siren is one of the Chinese herbal medicine that nourishes the heart. It is often used to treat insomnia and its accompanying symptoms, irritability, palpitations, night sweats, and constipation. Other herbs beneficial to heart function include longan flesh, lotus seed, lotus root, Schisandra, and tortoiseshell.

Acupuncture and massage on the head and feet can also help strengthen heart function.

• Replenishing effort

Various ingredients can be added to our daily meals to replenish our efforts, such as lotus seeds, lotus root, lily, longan, red dates, dangshen, angelica, and poria.

• Exercise improves blood circulation

Exercise helps to clear the blood flow and reduce the impact of stress on our minds and body. Tai Chi, yoga, and other forms of exercise that emphasize breathing and meditation also help exercise qi and calm the mind and relax the body and mind.