Emotion and health from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine: holistic connection and maintenance

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that emotions (emotions) are closely related to health, and emphasizes that "internal injuries of the seven emotions" are important factors in causing disease. The main content is divided into three parts:The relationship between emotions and internal organs(Such as anger hurts the liver, joy hurts the heart),Emotional disorders(such as insomnia, qi stagnation) andNursing methods(Such as soothing the liver and relieving depression, calming the mind and nourishing the mind). The core point is that emotional imbalance will disrupt the flow of qi and blood, and balance needs to be restored through emotional regulation, medication assistance, and lifestyle improvements.

Correspondence between emotions and internal organs

Traditional Chinese medicine categorizes emotions into seven types: "happiness, anger, worry, thinking, sadness, fear, and surprise", which correspond to different organ functions. For example,Anger hurts the liver, long-term anger may lead to liver qi stagnation, headaches or irregular menstruation;Thinking hurts the spleen, excessive thinking will weaken the digestive function of the spleen and stomach. This correlation stems from the laws of qi and blood movement. The Huangdi Nei Jing points out that "all diseases arise from qi", and emotional fluctuations directly affect the rise and fall of qi.

Typical symptoms of emotional disorders

Emotional imbalance can manifest as physical symptoms: Long-term depression may accompanyChest tightness, hypochondriac pain(Liver qi stagnation), which can easily lead to anxietypalpitations, insomnia(Heart fire is strong). "Danxi Heart Method" mentions that "depressed people are stagnant and unable to communicate." Chronic fatigue and gastrointestinal dysfunction that are common in modern times may also be related to emotions. Traditional Chinese medicine determines the degree of emotional influence through tongue diagnosis and pulse. If the pulse is stringy, it indicates liver stagnation.

Three major ways to nurture your emotions

Traditional Chinese medicine advocates "treating the disease before it's too late", and emotional care includes:1. Mental Attunement(such as meditation, cultivating hobbies);2. Medication assistance(Xiaoyao Powder soothes the liver, Ganmai Dazao Decoction calms the nerves);3. External therapy(Acupuncture at Taichong point can relieve liver fire, and massage at Tanzhong point can widen the chest and regulate qi). Daily exercise can be combined with five-tone therapy (such as Jiao Tune music to help relieve liver qi) and moderate exercise (Ba Duan Jin, Tai Chi).

Summary: Emotional balance is the cornerstone of health

Traditional Chinese medicine regards emotion as the first "internal cause" and emphasizes the integration of body and mind. Modern research has also confirmed that emotional stress is associated with decreased immunity (such as increased cortisol levels). Nursing care needs to be personalized. Mild cases can be adjusted through lifestyle adjustments, while severe cases need to be combined with traditional Chinese medicine or acupuncture. Only by maintaining a "tranquil and nihilistic" mentality and cooperating with regular work and rest can we achieve the ideal state of "supporting both body and soul" mentioned in "The Theory of Health Preservation".

Quote sources:

1. Theoretical basis: "Huangdi Neijing" and "Danxi Heart Method" 2. Clinical prescriptions: Zhang Zhongjing of the Eastern Han Dynasty, "The Synopsis of the Golden Chamber" (Ganmai Dazao Decoction), the Song Dynasty's "Taiping Huimin Hejiju Prescription" (Xiaoyao Powder) 3. Modern application reference: "Traditional Chinese Medicine Emotional Pathology" (edited by Wang Yongyan)