Article from : http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/anxietydepression/a/EmotionsTCM.htm

Learn how emotions are related to body systems and symptoms

By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide

Updated: January 15, 2008

In traditional Chinese medicine, emotions and physical health are intimately connected. Sadness, nervous tension and anger, worry, fear, and overwork are each associated with a particular organ in the body. For example, irritability and inappropriate anger can affect the liver and result in menstrual pain, headache, redness of the face and eyes, dizziness and dry mouth.

A diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine is highly individualized. Once an organ system is identified, the unique symptoms of the patient determine the practitioner’s treatment approach.

Using the liver again as an example, breast distension, menstrual pain, and irritability during menses are treated with certain herbs and acupuncture points, and migraines headaches, dizziness, and inappropriate anger with redness of the face point to a different type of liver pattern and is treated in a different way.

What does the liver have to do with migraines? Organ systems in the traditional Asian sense may include the Western medical-physiological function, but are also part of a holistic body system. The liver, for example, ensures that energy and blood flow smoothly throughout the body. It also regulates bile secretion, stores blood, and is connected with the tendons, nails, and eyes.

By understanding these connections, we can see how an eye disorder such as conjunctivitis might be due to an imbalance in the liver, or excess menstrual flow may be due to dysfunction in the liver’s blood-storing ability. Besides emotions, other factors such as dietary, environmental, lifestyle, and hereditary factors also contribute to the development of imbalances.

Spleen

·Emotions - worry, dwelling or focusing too much on a particular topic, excessive mental work

·Spleen Function - Food digestion and nutrient absorption. Helps in the formation of blood and energy. Keeps blood in the blood vessels. Connected with muscles, mouth, and lips. Involved in thinking, studying, and memory.

·Symptoms of Spleen Imbalance - Tired, loss of appetite, mucus discharge, poor digestion, abdominal distension, loose stools or diarrhea. Weak muscles, pale lips. Bruising, excess menstrual blood flow, and other bleeding disorders.

Lung

·Emotions - grief, sadness, detached.

·Lung Function - Respiration. Forms energy from air, and helps to distribute it throughout the body. Works with the kidney to regulate water metabolism. Important in the immune system and resistance to viruses and bacteria. Regulates sweat glands and body hair, and provides moisture to the skin.

·Symptoms of Lung Imbalance - Shortness of breath and shallow breathing, sweating, fatigue, cough, frequent cold and flu, allergies, asthma, and other lung conditions. Dry skin. Depression and crying.

Liver

·Emotions - anger, resentment, frustration, irritability, bitterness, “flying off the handle”.

·Liver Function - Involved in the smooth flow of energy and blood throughout the body. Regulates bile secretion, stores blood, and is connected with the tendons, nails, and eyes.

·Symptoms of Liver Imbalance - breast distension, menstrual pain, headache, irritability, inappropriate anger, dizziness, dry, red eyes and other eye conditions, tendonitis.

Heart

·Emotions - lack of enthusiasm and vitality, mental restlessness, depression, insomnia, despair.

·Heart Function - Regulates the heart and blood vessels. Responsible for even and regular pulse. Influences vitality and spirit. Connected with the tongue, complexion, and arteries.

·Symptoms of Heart Imbalance - Insomnia, heart palpitations and irregular heart beat, excessive dreaming, poor long-term memory, psychological disorders.

Kidney

·Emotions - fearful, weak willpower, insecure, aloof, isolated.

·Kidney Function - Key organ for sustaining life. Responsible for reproduction, growth and development, and maturation. Involved with lungs in water metabolism and respiration. Connected with bones, teeth, ears, and head hair.

·Symptoms of Kidney Imbalance - Frequent urination, urinary incontinence, night sweats, dry mouth, poor short-term memory, low back pain, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and other ear conditions. Premature grey hair, hair loss, and osteoporosis.

_Sources

_{Kaptchuk TJ. The Web That Has No Weaver. Chicago: Congdon and Weed, Inc., 1983.}

_{Tierra M, Tierra L. Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine Volume 1: Diagnosis and Treatment. Twin Lakes: Lotus Press, 1998.}

Posted by Dr. Mercola | December 07 2002

www.drmercola.com

A growing number of people who have learned the EFT technique find it is incredibly useful in helping them to sleep. There are a number of ways EFT can be used to induce pleasant sleep, and I will get to some of these. But, for those who already know how to use the technique — consult Dr. Mercola’s free online EFT manual if you want to learn the basics — the most obvious way to counteract your inability to fall asleep is to “tap” while stating the following affirmation:

“Even though I can’t get to sleep (don’t let myself get to sleep, etc.) I deeply and completely accept myself.”

That’s a good start, but there are some even more effective EFT maneuvers you can use for this purpose. The first and most important thing is to examine the underlying issues in your life that may be causing your consistent pattern of wakefulness. This is crucial if you want to obtain lasting relief from your sleep difficulty — there is always a CAUSE for a sleep disturbance, either physical, emotional or both. You will need to work on this cause by using EFT if you want to remove the sleep problem permanently.

To identify the cause of your insomnia, first analyze the thoughts that circle in your mind during the time you lie awake. What are these thoughts concerned with? Do they relate to a specific theme or themes in your life? Is there a particular concern or worry that refuses to leave you alone at night? Do you have a problem that insists on seeking an answer right away … “or else”?

The following list of suggestions is not exhaustive and may be more of a starting point than a definite direction, but you can use them to spark your thinking. I will give you a few possibilities for some “EFT Choices” that might be useful for dealing with whatever issues come up.

I suggest that you read the following with an open mind, and if any of the phrases fit try that one on for size by tapping with the setup phrase suggested or some variation of it that applies more closely to your own situation

My first suggestion is the EFT Choice:

“Even though I feel a great responsibility for (fill in here with a few words describing any responsibilities that weigh on your mind when you are lying awake at night) … I choose to know that any thoughts I have about this will be even more useful after I sleep.”

Tapping on this statement does NOT make you irresponsible or “avoiding the issues,” by the way. What it will do is allow you to cancel out your concern about the situation so you can get good sleep, and in this way become more clear-headed about this issue the next day. Being weighed down with responsibilities is a common blocker of sleep; you will handle your responsibilities much better if you are well rested.

Another sleep-depriver is anxiety. Suppose you are thinking obsessively because you are anxious about the outcome of something and afraid of what will happen if you don’t come up with a good answer — RIGHT NOW. You may be afraid that your job will be in jeopardy if you don’t do this or that, or that your health will be in jeopardy if you don’t find an answer now, etc.

In all these cases, the best thing to do is to keep a pad and pencil by your bed so you can turn on the light when these thoughts start to circle in your head. Jot down one or two sentences to remind yourself in the morning of what it was you were worried about last night — and then start tapping on the anxiety itself, using EFT.

For example, you might use the Choices phrase:

“Even though I’m anxious about (worried that, etc., fill in whatever it is that worries you), I choose to be calm and confident.” or “I choose to be calm and relaxed, etc.”

Another emotion that often keeps us awake at night is anger — sleep and anger are often incompatible. If this is the case, try tapping directly on YOUR ANGER! If you do this, be totally honest with yourself. Bring out all your resentment toward any uncomfortable position you find yourself in, or toward anyone who is irritating or infuriating to you, etc. Then tap openly and vigorously using such phrases as:

“Even though I’m furious (enraged at, etc., fill in name of person or situation), I choose to be calm and confident.”

This can work wonders because the likelihood is that if your anger was stirred up that much, you were NOT feeling calm and confident about the situation at all but were instead threatened by it in some way. Remove the sense of threat so that you can have peace.

Whatever the issue is that you identify and work on, keep doing rounds of EFT until your distress rating (on a zero to 10 point scale of distress) comes down to a one or a zero (or at least as low as you can get it to go). After doing this, you may naturally fall asleep with no difficulty.

However, old habits do sometimes die hard. If so, you may have to employ other EFT strategies as well to break the problem-solving habit when you are lying in bed. Here are some suggestions for doing that:

If you find yourself wakeful as you lie in bed, you may want to try MENTALLY tapping on each of the EFT acupoints, instead of physical tapping. For many people (myself included) this works quite well because it doesn’t stir us up through physical activity, which can make us more wakeful; mentally tapping through the EFT sequence can do the job just as well.

A very helpful setup phrase for this purpose can be:

“Even though I can’t get to sleep, I choose to be pleasantly drowsy … .”

Notice that I don’t suggest that you directly suggest sleep, simply because that idea might be resisted by habit! Instead, you will be slipping sleep in by the back door, so to speak — if you become pleasantly drowsy, the likelihood is very high that you will automatically drift off to sleep.

As you tap mentally (if you can do so, or if not do EFT by gently touching each acupoint instead of tapping), if the process is working for you, you will at some point find yourself confused about just where you are in the EFT sequence, or begin to forget your reminder phrase. This vague, drifting state of consciousness is exactly what you want so don’t resist it! It means you are entering the so-called hypnogogic (pre-sleep) state. If you just go with it, you will be asleep in the twinkling of an eye, although you probably won’t know it until you awake in the morning.

Another possible phrase for inducing sleep with EFT is:

“Even though my thoughts seem so important, I choose to know that they’ll all be there tomorrow when I wake up.”

This can release you to allow sleep to come naturally.

Finally, if none of these tactics have worked for you, you might then profit greatly by delving into your memory banks to discover just when in your life it was that your sleep difficulties began. When you locate that spot in time, try to remember what happened to you at that time in your life — the likelihood is that there was something traumatic that triggered this wakeful habit, and tapping on that trauma can be the key to resolving your entire sleep problem. I have seen this happen a number of times with clients. The effect of clearing the original cause can be a complete cessation of a sleep disturbance.

I wish you good luck in using EFT as a benefactor of your sleep and your life!

Patricia Carrington

DR. MERCOLA’S COMMENTS

Patricia Carrington’s overview of how to use EFT to conquer insomnia is right on target. I have similarly employed the technique with patients of mine who had trouble sleeping.

For those who haven’t heard of Ms. Carrington, her “Choices Method” is a very useful innovation for EFT. You can read more about the Choices Method on the last page of my free EFT manual.

If you are new to EFT, I suggest you start with the free online EFT manual for the basics, and then consider my more comprehensive Try It On Everything book and DVD.

Article from Mercola.com

If you are having sleep problems, whether you are not able to fall asleep, wake up too often, don’t feel well-rested when you wake up in the morning, or simply want to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep, try as many of the following techniques below as possible:

• My current favorite for insomnia is Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT) / Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Most people can learn this gentle tapping technique in several minutes.

  MTT / EFT can help balance your body’s bioenergy system and resolve some of the emotional stresses that are contributing to the insomnia at a very deep level. The results are typically long lasting and the improvement is remarkably rapid.

• Listen to white noise or relaxation CDs. Some people find the sound of white noise or nature sounds, such as the ocean or forest, to be soothing for sleep. An excellent relaxation/meditation option to listen to before bed is the Insight audio CD.
• Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. This will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep.
• Sleep in complete darkness or as close as possible. If there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland’s production of melatonin and seratonin. There also should be as little light in the bathroom as possible if you get up in the middle of the night. Please whatever you do, keep the light off when you go to the bathroom at night. As soon as you turn on that light you will for that night immediately cease all production of the important sleep aid melatonin.
• No TV right before bed. Even better, get the TV out of the bedroom or even out of the house, completely. It is too stimulating to the brain and it will take longer to fall asleep. Also disruptive of pineal gland function for the same reason as above.
  • Wear socks to bed. Due to the fact that they have the poorest circulation, the feet often feel cold before the rest of the body. A study has shown that this reduces night wakings (Click Here).
  • Read something spiritual or religious. This will help to relax. Don’t read anything stimulating, such as a mystery or suspense novel, as this may have the opposite effect. In addition, if you are really enjoying a suspenseful book, you might wind up unintentionally reading for hours, instead of going to sleep.
  • Avoid using loud alarm clocks. It is very stressful on the body to be awoken suddenly. If you are regularly getting enough sleep, they should be unnecessary. I gave up my alarm clock years ago and now use a sun alarm clock. The Sun Alarm™ SA-2002 provides an ideal way to wake up each morning if you can’t wake up with the REAL sun. Combining the features of a traditional alarm clock (digital display, AM/FM radio, beeper, snooze button, etc) with a special built-in light that gradually increases in intensity, this amazing clock simulates a natural sunrise. It also includes a sunset feature where the light fades to darkness over time - ideal for anyone who has trouble falling asleep.
  • Journaling. If you often lay in bed with your mind racing, it might be helpful keep a journal and write down your thoughts before bed. Personally, I have been doing this for 15 years, but prefer to do it in the morning when my brain is functioning at its peak and my coritsol levels are high (CLICK HERE)
  • Melatonin and its precursors. If behavioral changes do not work, it may be possible to improve sleep by supplementing with the hormone melatonin. Ideally it is best to increase levels naturally with exposure to bright sunlight in the daytime (along with full spectrum fluorescent bulbs in the winter) and absolute complete darkness at night. One should get blackout drapes so no light is coming in from the outside. One can also use one of melatonin’s precursors, L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). L-tryptophan is obtainable by prescription only. However, don’t be afraid or intimidated by its prescription status. It is just a simple amino acid.
  • Get to bed as early as possible. Our systems, particularly the adrenals, do a majority of their recharging or recovering during the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. In addition, your gallbladder dumps toxins during this same period. If you are awake, the toxins back up into the liver which then secondarily back up into your entire system and cause further disruption of your health. Prior to the widespread use of electricity, people would go to bed shortly after sundown, as most animals do, and which nature intended for humans as well.
  • Check your bedroom for electro-magnetic fields (EMFs). These can disrupt the pineal gland and the production of melatonin and seratonin, and may have other negative effects as well. To purchase a gauss meter to measure EMFs try Cutcat at 800-497-9516. They have a model for around $40. One doctor even recommends that people pull their circuit breaker before bed to kill all power in the house (Dr. Herbert Ross, author of “Sleep Disorders”).
  • Keep the temperature in the bedroom no higher than 70 degrees F. Many people keep their homes and particularly the upstairs bedrooms too hot.
    • Eat a high-protein snack several hours before bed. This can provide the L-tryptophan need to produce melatonin and serotonin.
    • Also eat a small piece of fruit. This can help the tryptophan cross the blood-brain barrier.
    • Reduce or avoid as many drugs as possible. Many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter may have effects on sleep. In most cases, the condition, which caused the drugs to be taken in the first place, can be addressed by following the guidelines elsewhere on this web site.
    • Avoid caffeine. A recent study showed that in some people, caffeine is not metabolized efficiently and therefore they can feel the effects long after consuming it. So an afternoon cup of coffee (or even tea) will keep some people from falling asleep. Also, some medications, particularly diet pills contain caffeine.
    • Alarm clocks and other electrical devices. If these devices must be used, keep them as far away from the bed as possible, preferably at least 3 feet.
    • Avoid alcohol. Although alcohol will make people drowsy, the effect is short lived and people will often wake up several hours later, unable to fall back asleep. Alcohol will also keep you from falling into the deeper stages of sleep, where the body does most of its healing.
    • Lose weight. Being overweight can increase the risk of sleep apnea, which will prevent a restful nights sleep. CLICK HERE for my diet recommendations.
    • Avoid foods that you may be sensitive to. This is particularly true for dairy and wheat products, as they may have effect on sleep, such as causing apnea, excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, and gas, among others.
    • Don’t drink any fluids within 2 hours of going to bed. This will reduce the likelihood of needing to get up and go to the bathroom or at least minimize the frequency.
    • Take a hot bath, shower or sauna before bed. When body temperature is raised in the late evening, it will fall at bedtime, facilitating sleep,
    • Remove the clock from view. It will only add to your worry when constantly staring at it… 2 a.m. …3 a.m. … 4:30 a.m. …
    • Keep your bed for sleeping. If you are used to watching TV or doing work in bed, you may find it harder to relax and to think of the bed as a place to sleep.
    • Have your adrenals checked by a good natural medicine clinician. Scientists have found thatinsomnia may be caused by adrenal stress (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, August 2001; 86:3787-3794).
    • If you are menopausal or perimenopausal, get checked out by a good natural medicine physician. The hormonal changes at this time may cause problems if not properly addressed.
    • Don’t change your bedtime. You should go to bed, and wake up, at the same times each day, even on the weekends. This will help your body to get into a sleep rhythm and make it easier to fall asleep and get up in the morning.
    • Make certain you are exercising regularly. Exercising for at least 30 minutes everyday can help you fall asleep. However, don’t exercise too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake. Studies show exercising in the morning is the best if you can do it.
    • Establish a bedtime routine. This could include meditation, deep breathing, using aromatherapy or essential oils or indulging in a massage from your partner. The key is to find something that makes you feel relaxed, then repeat it each night to help you release the day’s tensions.

    • Go to the bathroom right before bed. This will reduce the chances that you’ll wake up to go in the middle of the night.

    • Wear an eye mask to block out light. As said above, it is very important to sleep in as close to complete darkness as possible. That said, it’s not always easy to block out every stream of light using curtains, blinds or drapes, particularly if you live in an urban area (or if your spouse has a different schedule than you do). In these cases, an eye mask can help to block out the remaining light.

    • Put your work away at least one hour (but preferably two or more) before bed. This will give your mind a chance to unwind so you can go to sleep feeling calm, not hyped up or anxious about tomorrow’s deadlines.

http://www.naturalnews.com/028345_mental_illness_nature.html

Article from www.acupuncture.com

By Sophia Tang

Are you really healthy? What are the health indexes in Chinese medicine system?

Chinese medicine sees our body as a reflection of this universe and sees the material world as consisting of the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. In the human body, each organ is attributed to one of these five elements. Each of the five elements has a supporting and controlling relationship with each other. Chinese medicine also treats the human body as a network system. This network system is constructed of 12 major meridians or channels that connect directly to 365 major acupuncture points. Everything in our body is connected with those meridian channels including the organs such as liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney, gall bladder, intestines, etc. Different types of energy such as Qi, blood, essence (Jing), and body fluids flow through our meridian channels and nourish the whole body system including all our organs. If the flowing of each meridian channel is vibrated at its optimal frequency without any disturbance and blockage, every organ has a harmonious supporting and controlling relationship with each other, and there is no deficient or excess energy within our body, we should be healthy.

Because Chinese medicine physiology is based on a type of theory that is totally different from Western medicine, it stands to reason that the health indexes based on Chinese medicine are also completely difference from Western medicine.

I will give you an example. If a person is always feeling chilled along with cold hands and feet, the diagnosis from Chinese medicine would likely be Heart Yang deficiency. The Heart has the fire attribute in the five elements system. It is like the sunshine that warms our body. Yang energy represents functional energy. Without enough functional Yang energy, the heart cannot carry its normal function to pump out blood with enough pressure, speed, and temperature. The result of this is poor circulation in our body. The body extremities will be cold because the heart is lacking of functional energy and it cannot do its job. Thus, it is easier for the body to accumulate garbage and become susceptible to tumor growths for people with this type of physical constitution.

If this same person goes to a Western doctor due to chronic fatigue syndrome and frequent urination, but gets “normal” lab test numbers and examination from the doctor, the doctor would tell that person that his/her physical health is fine. However, if this person sees an authentic Chinese medicine physician, he/she would definitely know what is going on with this person’s health and can even foresee what physical conditions may manifest in the future. The healer will then tune up this person with acupuncture, herbal medicine, or some other healing modality. This will prevent these physical symptoms from manifesting into a serious disease.

There are examinations used by Chinese medical healers to check if a person is healthy. These examinations include visual inspection of the tongue, eyes, and other parts of the body; smelling, questioning, and pulse taking. Traditional Chinese medicine healers do not rely on a disease name and laboratory tests to tell you if you are healthy or not. If you would like to know if you are healthy or not, below are health indexes Chinese medical healers use to gauge health. If you meet these criteria without any uncomfortable symptoms in your body, then you are physically healthy from the view of the Chinese medicine system. If not, you should see a traditional Chinese medicine healer to get an examination and to tune up your body, so your body will be back to the balance and meet these criteria of these health indexes according to Chinese medicine physiology.

Health indexes in Traditional Classical Chinese medicine system:

1. Normal appetite. Food tastes good. You get normal hungry feelings. Do not overeat.
2. Have a bowel movement everyday at the same time.
3. Urinate 5-7 times during a day, 0-1 time during the night without pain or difficulty.
4. Have no problem falling asleep and can sleep throughout the night.
5. Do not have any abnormal sweat or abnormal thirst during the day or night.
6. Wake up with penile erection with the male and with sensitive breast nipple with the female.
7. Pain free.
8. Have warm hands and feet and cool face.
9. Have the energy level you desire.
10. Woman has 28 days of menstrual cycle without uncomfortable feeling and cramping.

Let me give you some examples about why meeting those criteria are important for your health.

Example 1:
A person who is always feeling hungry and craving food. This is an indication that there is too much heat in the digestion system, so the digestion system is working too fast. This heat will impact nearby organs such as pancreas. Once the pancreas is not functioning normally, it is possible that diabetes may manifest in the future.

Example 2:
A person always wakes up during 1-3 o’clock in the morning. There is indication here that there is an imbalance in the Liver channel. This imbalance could be something excessive growing in the liver or an energy deficiency or a blockage in the Liver channel. If you tell a Western doctor that you are waking up during this time, he/she may not be able to tell you that there is anything wrong, especially if the examination and the lab tests are fine. If this kind of symptom lasts for over two years, you may be surprised to find that those same lab tests may now tell you that something is wrong with the liver, which could be something like growing tumors. If you saw a well-trained Traditional Chinese medicine healer when this symptom began, he/she would definitely know what the diagnosis is. He/she will then tune up the body to get it back into balance so that imbalance will not manifest into a serious health issue in the future.

All questions asked from a Traditional Chinese medicine healer are the starting point for doing a good diagnosis. All symptoms showing in your body are signs to tell the healer what is going on with your body. So be sure to tell your Chinese medicine physician all symptoms you are having no matter how strange it might sound.

Wise people know the prevention is the best medicine for their over all health. The Traditional Classical Chinese medicine system is the most complete medical system since the ancient times. It is the only system that also includes prevention as part of overall treatment.

http://www.sophtangacupuncture.com