Understanding Sadness in Chinese Medicine.

music as medicine.

Loss hurts.  It takes your breath away, pains your heart, and leaves you feeling empty.  Unfortunately, it is something everyone deals with at some point.  So, I thought I would talk about some ways traditional Chinese medicine can make the grieving process a little easier and a little less painful.

First of all, sadness and grieving are a natural and healthy response to loss.  The emotions must be expressed so that they can be let go.  Emotions only become harmful when they are long lasting, very intense, or not expressed.

How do I know when my sadness is damaging?  In Chinese medicine, sadness weakens the Lungs via the Heart.  Grief and regret also have the same effect.  This Lung weakness can manifest as breathlessness, discomfort in the chest, tiredness, deep sighing, crying, or a weak pulse.  If these symptoms and emotional states continue for months or years, then they become a cause of disease.

So, what can I do to help process my grief?

• Breathing exercises

Because sadness is associated with the Lungs, one of the most effective ways to process it is diaphragmatic breathing.  My favorite breathing exercise is the 4-7-8 breath.  Empty all the air from your lungs through your mouth.  Close your mouth and place the tip of your tongue on the ridges on the top of your mouth.  Inhale through your nose for a count of four, hold the breath for a count of seven, then exhale through your mouth for a count of eight.  Repeat 10 times.  Here's a video demonstration.

• Acupressure and movement

​Massaging the Lung meridian is helpful and may be sore when we are grieving.  The channel begins beneath the clavicle near the shoulder, descends down the upper arm in the middle of the bicep and from the elbow crease towards the thumb nail.  If any parts are really tender, stop and massage that spot a while until it's not tender anymore.  For reference, here's a pic.  Really, any movement you will actually do is helpful.

• Acupuncture and herbs

 Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are immensely helpful for opening emotional blockages so they can be released.  Sometimes, patients are alarmed at their crying during a treatment, but they are crying because their sadness is moving and they are finally letting it go.  

• Mindfulness meditation

Practicing mindfulness during times of sadness and processing grief can help your body find precious moments of peace during a difficult time.  This is a short meditation from Jack Kornfield to help you get started.  And the Heaspace app is great.

• Nutrition

Try including some of these foods in your diet to help strengthen the Lungs.  They are: pumpkin, rosemary, thyme, coconut, lentils, chickpeas, adzuki beans, and radishes.  Even though your stomach may be in knots, it's important to nurture your physical body as well as your emotions.  

• Therapy

Of course, therapy can teach you techniques to help you cope with the stresses associated with loss.

Not fully processing grief impacts every part of your being.  Traditional Chinese medicine helps you not get stuck.  It offers us many ways to deal with sadness, regret, and the grieving process in a healthy way.  

If you're feeling stuck in your grieving, please consider adding acupuncture to your self care routine.  It might be just what your body and soul need to heal.  More specific questions?  Let me know.  I'm here to help!