In traditional Chinese medicine, emotions and physical health are connected. Sadness, nervous tension and anger, worry, fear, and overwork are each associated with a particular organ in the body.
When we are in a state of balance with our mind, our body systems is balanced as well. It is important to note that when discussing the emotional aspect of the disease process, it is normal to feel all of the emotions since they relate to daily life. It is only when a particular emotion is experienced intensely for a long period of time that it may become a source of the imbalance.
Joy
In TCM joy refers to a state of overexcitement. The most affected organ is heart. It can lead to problems connected with such symptoms as insomnia, palpitations and feelings of agitation.
Anger
As described in TCM, anger covers the full range of associated emotions including resentment, irritability and frustration. The most affected organ is liver, resulting in stagnation of liver vital energy. This can lead to headaches, dizziness and other symptoms. Later it can result in high blood pressure and can lead to problems with stomach and the spleen.
Anxiety
Anxiety injures lungs which control qi through breathing. Common symptoms of anxiety are shallow and irregular breathing. Lungs are considered to play an important role in a state of our immune system, providing resistance to viruses and bacteria.
Pensiveness
In TCM pensiveness is understood as the result of thinking too much. It can lead to a deficiency of spleen qi causing worry and resulting in fatigue.
Grief
The lungs are more directly involved with this emotion. If the grief remains unresolved and becomes chronic it can create disharmony in lungs, weakening the lungs qi.
Fear
Fear is a normal human emotion, but when it becomes chronic it is likely to lead to disharmony in the whole human body. Kidneys are the more at risk in such situation. Symptoms that point to a Kidney energy deficiency are low back and knee pain, dry mouth, night sweating, hearing loss, poor memory, premature greying or loss of hair, decline of sexual function.
Fright
It is another emotion not related to one specific organ. Fright primarily affects hear, especially in the initial stages, but if it continuous for some time, it becomes conscious fear and moves to the kidneys.
TCM teaches us to strive for balance in our emotional lives. It is helpful to know that by taking care of our bodies, we are also taking care of our emotional selves, and vice versa.
