Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Meridians and the 5 Elements
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) including the meridian system is complex and I don’t pretend to be an expert on them. what I do know is that I have got so much out of acupuncture and yin yoga, and of course, both of these practices are linked back to TCM.
I have had acupuncture on and off for nearly 20 years and credit it in the support of the following:
Helping ease anxiety as I transitioned into adulthood
Lower back pain relief
Relieving allergies, particularly in pregnancy when antihistamine wasn’t safe.
Balancing hormone levels which actually led me to get pregnant after a wee bit of a journey (nothing compared to some)
Acupuncture also fuelled my interest in yin yoga, this interest then saw me travel to Australia to do 100 hours of training to become a yin yoga teacher.
Finding a highly skilled and experienced practitioner is key. If you’re in Nelson and would like a recommendation, get in touch
TCM is interweaved through most of my yin yoga practices. If you love yin like I do you’ll understand that the practice is more about energetics than physical stretching. If you can get energy or qi to flow in areas of restriction then the nervous system gets to sigh and the body starts to follow. We then get to experience that physical release of connective tissues and muscles. But first, we must surrender to our egos, minds and muscles so we can interweave these energetic pathways. It’s not easy – it’s definitely a journey – and some days are harder than others but remember it is a practice, and practice isn’t always perfect.
There are many ways for you to work out where you’re unbalanced, physical and emotional issues can highlight it. Do you often feel anger (liver), grief or sadness (lung), worry (spleen)? Is your lower back always aching? Look at the kidney meridian. A really accessible way for us all is to take a look at the Chinese Elements and their characteristics to work out your constitution, which can change in different seasons of life. See what characteristics are most like you and also what elements support it. Take a look at this diagram and read more on each below:
Liver Health:
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the Liver is the organ that is most affected by excess stress or emotions. Feel it, express it, but don’t hold it! Are you often irritable? Do things stress you out easily? Your Liver is telling you that its function is becoming out of balance. More on Liver health.
Heart Health:
True cardiovascular health is not just about physical fitness, it’s about deep contentment with one’s life and destiny. Happiness and love are often associated with the Heart representing a state of peacefulness. Stress or lack of self-expression can directly impact this organ’s function. More on Heart health.
Stomach Health:
Chronic stress, worry, and anxiety can damage Stomach function very quickly. Without the proper functioning of the Stomach and its partner organ the Spleen, you can easily begin to suffer from poor digestive health and low metabolism function. More on Stomach health.
Lung Health:
Too much sadness and grieving can harm the Lung and its partner, the Large Intestine. “Letting things go” is a healthy way to stimulate your Lung’s function and get rid of physical and emotional baggage. More on Lung health.
Kidney Health:
The Kidney is the “reserve generator” of energy in the body, supplying extra Qi to all the organs when necessary. Its corresponding emotion of fear can be a red flag that these powerhouses of the body are themselves low on Qi and working too hard. More on Kidney health.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Jane xo