Stress seems to be a common theme in our culture and one that is just lightly ‘thrown around’. Stress is a part of everyone’s lives. Some people however, seem to be able to manage it better while others spend a good part of their day to day lives feeling “stressed”.
Stress is a natural and non-specific response our body experiences when faced with emotional or physical demands. It is a defense mechanism that was essential in our ancestry: our fight or flight response. It protected us from predators and helped us carry on our life lines. In today’s world when we eat well, get enough sleep, have a positive outlook and get a sufficient amount of exercise, we are able to cope with daily stresses and can even use the natural stress response in a positive way. It can help keep us alert, focused, and physically strong. However in our culture we see more negative stress inflicted on our bodies and our physical and mental health are paying the price. Stress turns negative when we are over-worked, participate in negative thinking, indulge in poor eating habits and stop making space in our lives for relaxation. Sadly, in today’s culture somehow the idea of “down time” and relaxation has become an indulgence rather than a necessity. Our fight or flight response has a positive influence only when we allow our body to have the time to “rest and digest”. In Chinese Medicine this would be a classic relationship of the yin and yang.
To understand how stress can negatively affect our health we must look at what happens when the body is engaged in the fight or flight response. Signals are sent throughout the body creating physiological changes, including activating our adrenal glands, increasing blood pressure, and increasing blood flow to our muscles while reducing blood flow to our kidneys, GI tract and skin. In this state our bodies are not focused on maximizing digestion, reproduction or body tissue repair. Energy is being diverted towards areas that are more essential to survival in an emergency situation, such as our muscle. When preparing to escape from a predator all these physiological changes would be extremely beneficial. However in today’s culture, rather than running from predators, we are facing many more small stressors on a day to day basis. This consistent amount of stress leaves very little time for our bodies to fully “rest and digest”. As a result, we start to malnourish our digestive and reproductive systems and exhaust our adrenals and immune systems.
In Chinese medicine, the symbol of yin and yang (the Taiji) is a representation of balance. One cannot live without the other. Integral in the tradition of Chinese Medicine is this idea of balance. Living a balanced life helps one move through the stresses of life and maintain a healthier body mind and soul. This is achieved by ensuring the smooth flow of Qi. Qi is the energy and vitality behind all physiological reactions in the body. The study of how it flows through the body comes from over 2000 years of wisdom and experience mapping out pathways called meridians. When the flow of Qi is smooth we are able to move through thoughts and emotions and our body’s natural hormonal rhythm is optimized. When the natural movement of Qi is interfered with, which can happen with stress, the Qi stops moving. This lack of energetic flow can prevent one from moving emotionally and physically through an event. We feel “stuck”: stuck in an emotion; stuck in a negative physical pattern. Energy that doesn’t move creates friction. This friction makes it easy to feel frustrated and impatient, easy to have fluctuating moods, easy to feel depressed, but unable to move through it. Accompanying these emotions our body’s naturally physical rhythms deteriorate causing various physical ailments such as digestive issues, decreased fertility, headaches, tense muscles and high blood pressure. Our body has lost its balance.
From a western medicine point of view acupuncture moves blood, improving hormone delivery to target sites, releasing endorphins and nourishing organs, muscle and tissue. From a Chinese medicine perspective, we are not only moving blood but also Qi. Acupuncture points are chosen based on these meridian pathways and are tailored to each individual’s response to stress. The goal is simple but powerful: bring the body back into balance.
Accepting that being overly stressed is out of your control will not make you more efficient in your career. It won’t bring you better physical health and it won’t bring you a better sense of well being. Chinese Medicine brings 2000 years of ancient wisdom to today’s modern world showing us the way to a more balanced life.
