Stress and Chi Energy: Three Keys to Wellness

In Chinese medicine, all states of the body are associated with qi – the life energy of a person. If this energy is not enough or it is distributed unevenly, the person becomes ill. And the illness of the body and the psychological state in the East are not accepted to be separated. Therefore, when an oriental doctor undertakes the treatment of a patient, he seeks to correct both the physiological and psychological problem.

Stress #1: Kidneys

Kidney qi depletion is what we call prostration. Its symptoms are eternal fatigue, dark circles under the eyes, lack of sexual desire, possible (but not necessary) diseases of the urinary tract and hormonal imbalance. On a psychological level, the feeling of powerlessness gives rise to anxiety, fear and irritability. According to Chinese medicine, the kidneys are a place of energy storage, and if we do not replenish our energy supply, the body begins to “burn” this reserve. What to do? Regularly, consciously replenish the supply of qi. This is possible in only three ways: sleep, food, breathing. The most difficult thing is to work on the last point – unfortunately, we live in a not very favorable environmental situation. But we are quite capable of establishing proper food and sleep.

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Sleep. Chinese doctors call sleep “the golden chain that binds the body and health.” We all lack sleep, and to restore this imbalance, I recommend regular sleep sessions. If a person suffers from lack of sleep for more than a month, to restore energy, he will need a week of a quiet life in nature, without obligations and electronic devices. If you can’t afford that luxury, sleep regularly on weekends. The main thing is to give up the telephone, the Internet and liquid crystal screens for this period, which knock down biorhythms and make it difficult to understand when we want to sleep.

Food. We all know about the dangers of junk food and the benefits of foods high in micronutrients. Specific foods that specifically increase kidney qi are everything related to the sea: oysters, mussels, seaweed, fish. In addition, black sesame or sesame urbech, sunflower seeds, cashew nuts and pork have a high energy value for the kidneys.

Meditation. This is one of the effective methods of getting out of this type of stress. The purpose of the proposed exercise is to relieve anxiety for a while, unload the nervous system and improve the quality of sleep.

Sit comfortably – not necessarily in Turkish: a sofa or chair will do. The back is straight, the eyes are closed, the breathing is even and calm. Focus on two internal metrics:

• Count the number of breaths. To do this, you do not need to speed up or deepen your breathing: breathe as usual and count.
• Make sure your tongue is as relaxed as possible. Let it “spread” over the lower jaw, become absolutely soft.

The recommended duration of meditation is 12 minutes. But it is recommended to start with 2-3 minutes. When you sit down to meditate, set an alarm and, as soon as it rings, stop – even if you really want to continue. Thus, the feeling of lack of impressions will be an incentive for tomorrow’s session. After all, the secret of success is not so much in the exercise itself, but in the regularity of its implementation.

Stress #2: The digestive tract

The depletion of qi of the digestive system is associated with symptoms such as regular abdominal pain, flatulence, heartburn, and stool disorders. This Chinese diagnosis corresponds to Western gastritis, duodenitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pancreatitis, and other troubles. Due to the fact that food is not digested and nutrients are supplied in insufficient quantities, the condition may be accompanied by weakness, pallor, and a tendency to dizziness. And among other things, this is a direct path to anemia. How is this related to mental health? A person who has difficulty digesting food cannot “digest” his own experiences on an emotional level – express them in words, explain his dissatisfaction with the situation, and therefore change it for the better. Such people tend to accumulate grievances, refuse to communicate without explanation, suddenly (seemingly out of nowhere) get angry, and girls cry for no obvious reason to others.

Food. Those who face digestive problems quickly abandon junk food and switch to the so-called healthy diet: more fresh vegetables and fruits, meat, whole grains. However, the affected gastrointestinal tract is not able to absorb raw foods, and the person falls into a vicious circle: he eats right, but the situation does not improve. Therefore, in case of digestive problems, Chinese doctors prescribe a long sparing diet: boiled vegetables, thermally processed fruits, boiled cereals. Soups on a long languishing broth, jelly and jelly. In small quantities – sauerkraut, pickled vegetables. The diet is prescribed for a period of 6-8 months: easily digestible foods allow the gastrointestinal tract to rest and recover. In order for the body to receive additional vitamins and minerals, the diet is supplemented with decoctions of goji berries, chia seeds, and sesame seeds. Spices such as ginger, cumin, cloves, coriander, fennel help the work of the stomach and intestines.

Verbalization. When a person cannot “digest” what is happening, verbalize his thoughts and feelings, cognitive psychology can give good results. It is necessary to discuss and try to express your feelings as clearly as possible. Some people find it easier to do this in writing, such as keeping a diary. You can also recommend vocal or acting courses: then intense emotions will be realized in a creative format.

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Stress #3: Liver

In traditional medical treatises, it is said that the liver is responsible for the distribution of energy in the body. If energy stagnation occurs in the liver, the work of other organs and systems is disrupted. And where this problem will “shoot” at the level of symptoms is unknown. On an ongoing basis, there may be problems with digestion, sleep disturbances – difficulties with falling asleep and waking up. From a psychological point of view, a person subject to this type of stress feels like this: “My life is a complete mess!” He has a lot of things he can’t figure out. It is impossible to determine exactly where the “stagnation” occurred: you are spinning like a squirrel in a wheel, but things are only coming, plunging a person into a swamp of unfulfilled debts and obligations.

Food. People with this type of stress tend to have enough energy, so it can be assumed that the quality of sleep and nutrition is more or less normal. In this case, the main task in the formation of a diet is to establish fat metabolism so that the liver rests and restores its work. Therefore, you should abandon fatty meat, and give preference to vegetable oils and fatty sea fish. In Chinese medicine, five types of fish are considered especially useful: salmon, mackerel, anchovy, sardine, sprat and tuna. If you can’t buy fresh or frozen fish, you can take an omega-3 supplement. Among the specific foods that have a beneficial effect on the liver are rosemary, mint, rose hips, marjoram, anise and cardamom. You can use these plants in the form of seasonings for food or brew herbal teas.

Planning. Those who lack vision need to learn how to manage their time—and in particular, how to plan for the future. First of all, make a clear list of things: doable, impossible, and hypothetical. Sort and tick as you go. Use one of the many time management techniques: your task is to organize your schedule as clearly as possible. A person with a healthy liver knows exactly what he wants now and in the distant future, and a clear systematization of time will cultivate this skill.

Exercises. In Western medicine, it is generally accepted that getting rid of stress is directly related to physical activity: movement burns stress hormones, releases additional energy, and after exercise a person feels better. This is partly true. However, physical activity can be safely recommended only to owners of the third, “liver” type of stress. In the first two options, there is not enough resource for the exercises, and before you start exercising, you need to restore the supply of strength.