How Chinese Medicine Explains Stress

Let's try talking about the elephant in the room without using the "e" word. I'm going to describe the qualities of a healthy and relaxed person using terminology from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Then, by comparing your state of being to someone who's healthy and relaxed, you can decide for yourself whether or not you are suffering from str***.

Let me introduce a couple of terms before we get started.

The first is "qi," pronounced chee, which refers to the life force or energy that infuses every living thing. It's like the force from Star Wars - it surrounds us, binds us, holds the galaxy together. For those of you who think visually, the literal translation of the Chinese character means "steam rising from rice as it cooks."

Anyhoo, qi is a big deal in traditional Chinese medicine. Although it is something that cannot be smelled, tasted, or touched, it is the "yang" or active force that motivates all bodily functions, as well as the function of the body as a whole. In traditional Chinese medicine, qi is what pushes your blood through the vessels, what keeps your heart beating, and what turns the signal from your brain to move into an action in your muscles.

If this still isn't making sense, think of qi as electricity. It powers all of the systems in your body like the energizer bunny. When you qi is flowing, all of your organs are functioning smoothly, you are happy and relaxed. Little difficulties don't bother you because you are able to "go with the flow."

In traditional Chinese medicine, we diagnose and treat disturbances in the flow of qi. One of the main problems that arises is called "qi stagnation." There can be many causes of qi stagnation - a physical injury, depression, anger, or frustration - but the result is the same. Things just aren't moving the way that they should be.

When patients come into my office who are under stress, I usually diagnose some sort of qi stagnation.

What's the remedy for qi stagnation?

Acupuncture and herbs are extremely effective, but honestly the best remedy for qi stagnation is to move more. Any type of exercise will do - walking, housework, running, dancing, yoga, pilates, spinning... even just blasting music and jumping around your living room. Just do it. Get out there and move and you will feel better.