Understanding Stress – TCM Way

Stress and individual response

Our world today is filled with stress. Although the definition of stress and our reaction to it differ from one individual to another—and several members of one family often show a similar pattern—the impact on our internal organs is somewhat similar in traditional Chinese medical thought.

One result of stress is extreme emotion. In the traditional framework, each type of emotion is associated with one of five vital organs: depression with the Liver, excessive joy with the Heart, obsession with the Spleen, anguish with the Lungs and fear with the Kidneys.

Most people have a tendency towards one pattern of bodily reaction rather than another. Some have stomach upsets, while others experience headaches, respiratory illness or high blood pressure.

To elaborate further, a person under stress may suffer from angina pectoris, cardiac pain, arrhythmia or discomfort when lying down. In Chinese medicine, this is considered similar to a Heart meridian disorder.

Others may feel pain at the roof of the tongue, heaviness in the trunk, loss of appetite, lassitude, pain and swelling, coldness in the inner thighs or difficulty lying horizontally. In Chinese medicine, this is considered similar to a Spleen meridian disorder.

Some people experience a hot feeling in the mouth or dryness of the tongue, pharyngitis, toothache, insomnia, weakness of the lower limbs or a feverish sensation in the soles. In Chinese medicine, this is related to a Kidney meridian disorder.

Another pattern includes pain in the costal region, distension, a mass in the abdomen, headache at the vertex, vertigo, blurred vision or tinnitus. In Chinese medicine, this is considered similar to a Liver meridian disorder.

Lastly, there may be chills, fever, perspiration or lack of perspiration, distension and fullness of the chest, pain in the chest and clavicular fossa, or pain of the shoulder and arm with shaking. Crossing the arm over the chest may bring relief. In Chinese medicine, this is considered similar to a Lung meridian disorder.

An emotion of depression and stress

Depression and stress in traditional Chinese medicine are often associated with stagnation of the Liver’s Qi. This, in turn, is seen as a result of repressed feelings, particularly anger, unwarranted worry, fear and anxiety.

The stagnation of Qi may lead to poor circulation of body fluids and an accumulation of phlegm, which is said to cloud the mind and produce apathy, muddled thinking and pessimism. Here the mind is equated with Shen, or spirit, which is associated with the Heart. The accumulation of phlegm is said to indicate involvement of the Spleen, which is responsible for transforming and circulating body fluids.

Fortunately, depression, stress and their effects can be reduced through exercise, relaxation, meditation, biofeedback, acupuncture, massage, herbs, food remedies and other approaches. Such therapies can help restore normal function to internal biochemical processes and help reverse chronic depression and stress.

High levels of emotional stress increase susceptibility to illness. Chronic stress suppresses the immune system, which in turn increases susceptibility to illness, especially immune-related disorders.

Emotional stress may also lead to hormonal imbalances involving the adrenal, pituitary, thyroid and thymus glands, further interfering with immune function.

Another interesting idea about stress is that the time at which it occurs most frequently may serve as an early indication of imperfect organ function. According to the traditional Midday–Midnight Law, each of the twelve organ-meridian function complexes has a two-hour period during which its activity is maximal. Hence, by keeping a record of stress patterns, deficiency of a certain organ may be detected at an early stage.

Book references

Acupuncture: The Ancient Chinese Art of Healing — Dr Felix Mann

Stress and Relaxation — Jane Madders

Alternative Medicine — Future Medicine Publishing, Fife, Washington