Emotions and Energy

There is a whole-body interaction happening from excess emotional reactions. Anger affects the liver, Joy affects the heart, Worry affects the spleen, Sadness affects the lung, and Fear affects the kidneys. The emotional climate of our surroundings has a direct effect on the body through the energy of the organs. Our organs in their mental / emotional aspects have a specific way of being that they prefer. When this natural order is disrupted, a pathological state can occur. The body will try to balance the Qi to neutralize pathological states. This is the body’s defense mechanism for keeping us balanced, but it also uses up Qi (energy) which can cause us to feel tired and depleted. Stress drains energy.

The following list gives an illustration of the mental/emotional aspects of being related to classical understanding of the body, according to the 5 Elements. 

1. Wood Element: The Liver, creativity and expression, and the smooth flow of qi. The Liver is related to creating a smooth life path, and the Liver likes free, easy movement. In a pathological state: Anger, outbursts, shouting, frustration, and feeling “stuck”.
2. Fire Element: The Heart, mind and consciousness, joy and laughter, and the circulation. The Heart likes happiness and clear-thinking, and wants warmth and entertainment. In a pathological state: Mania, easily distracted, insomnia, or talking too much. 
3. Earth Element: The Spleen (and pancreas), intellect and reason, transformation and experiencing the sweetness of life. The Spleen categorizes, reasons, thinks, and transforms. The Spleen likes positive change, the sapors of food and drink, and brainy exercise. In a pathological state: Worry, rumination, overthinking, or loss of reason.
4. Metal Element: The Lungs, awareness and sensitivity, organization and energy. The Lung is awareness of surroundings, the executive organizer, and the Master of Qi (determining factor in a high or low energy level). The Lung likes activity, organization, open space, acceptance, and freedom. In a pathological state: Grief, sadness, depression, loss of energy, lack of organization. 
5. Water Element: The Kidneys, will power, personal identity, strength of the body, and ancestral heritage. The Kidney is your will to live, “source” of being which is the link with ancestors, your personal signature or identity, and the power you need to face life’s setbacks. The Kidney likes strong, firm foundations, gentle work, personal confidence and a healthy (non qi depleting) lifestyle. In a pathological state: Fear, anxiety, feeling “blah”, loss of willpower, drained or low energy, discontentment with the self or low confidence.

Emotional effects on the 5 element aspects of our being have specific internal results on the body’s qi, which are visible in the pulses and physically along the acupuncture channels. 

• Anger: Raises the Qi
• Joy: Slows down the Qi
• Worry: Ties the Qi in knots
• Sadness: Depletes the Qi
• Fear/Anxiety: Scatters the Qi

The goal of acupuncture is to balance the Qi so that it returns to its natural, normal movement, which will alleviate mental and physical symptoms. 

• Liver Qi Stagnation: tight, stiff muscles, feeling very stiff after waking up in the morning, unrestful sleep, feeling depressed, tired, or “stuck, lack of creativity in a normally creative person, moodiness, irritability, chest stuffiness, menstruation difficulties, tightness of the diaphragm or upper abdominal region. Your acupuncturist may notice a Wiry pulse, red or toothy tongue sides, and tight muscles along the acupuncture channels. 
• San Jiao (Metabolism) dysregulation: Weight gain, irregular digestion, urinary symptoms, feeling too hot or too cold in temperature, confusion, and sweating. Your acupuncturist may notice a weak pulse at the San Jiao location and tender acupuncture points along the San Jiao channel. 
• Spleen Qi Deficiency: A sallow complexion, tiredness, a desire to lie down, weakness of the limbs, a reduced appetite, abdominal weight gain or a distended abdomen, loose stools, and an aversion to or intense craving for sweet foods. The acupuncturist will notice a swollen, tooth marked tongue, and a slow or sinking pulse at the Spleen location. 
• Kidney Yang Deficiency: Sore back, low back pain, knee pain or joint pain, possible dizziness, tinnitus (noise in the ear), decreased libido or sexual performance, a general lack of motivation to “get stuff done”. The acupuncturist might find cold in the low back channels, deficient Kidney pulse, a pale tongue with extra coating at the very back. 
• Heart Fire: Palpitations (any feeling of uncomfortable heartbeat or fluttering in the chest), insomnia, flushed face, thirst, bitter taste in the mouth, ulcers, urinary burning, a spell of mania, obsession, or extreme distraction. Insomnia, or inability to fall asleep. The acupuncturist will likely note a red tongue with a very red tip and heat dots, a rapid full pulse in the Heart location, and a red bright complexion. 
• Stomach Yin Deficiency: Inability to digest regular foods, hunger with no desire to eat, “food fatigue” (you’re hungry but nothing sounds good), hiccups, dry mouth, constipation or dry stools, and thirst. The acupuncturist will probably notice a tongue with a peeled or absent coating that is red with little moisture, and thready, rapid pulses.