Happy Heart Health Month!

Several studies confirm that acupuncture can help with heart problems such as high blood pressure, angina and even heart failure.

One way that acupuncture works for physical heart health is that is helps the body to relax deeply and get out of what is called sympathetic nervous system dominance. The sympathetic nervous system response to stress is also known as "fight or flight." Being in fight or flight mode is detrimental to heart function as it increases blood pressure and heart rate. This study, as well as this study show that acupuncture can help calm this fight or flight response.

However, there is a lesser known way that acupuncture can improve heart health...and it has to do with emotions.

According to the ancient theories of Chinese medicine, the heart is the supreme ruler, or the emperor, of the body. It governs blood and blood vessels, just like in western medicine. However, the heart also notably presides over something called "Shen." Shen loosely translates into "spirit" or "mind." It is said that the Shen rules all mental activities, consciousness, mental health and even our presence. According to Chinese medicine, you can detect Shen in someone's eyes, which will be bright and shiny when the Shen is healthy. It is also said that the Shen comes out during the day and then retires at night into the heart. So, if the Shen is unhealthy or disturbed in some way this can produce problems with sleep. Another common Shen presentation I see in my clinic is anxiety.

The signs of disturbed Shen in Chinese medicine are typically insomnia, restlessness, feelings of the heart pounding or racing (palpitations), anxiety, unclear or disturbed thoughts, nightmares, poor memory and even mania and delirium when at an extreme.

Acupuncture treatments to help the Shen are focused on bringing peace and calming to the body and mind. Acupuncture points are often used on the head, on the ears or on the inner arm (the heart meridian) to help soothe and calm the Shen. 

Come learn about how acupuncture works and experience it for yourself! 

Chronic stress can negatively impact every system in the body including digestive, reproductive, cardiac, immune and musculoskeletal. 

Research has shown that acupuncture helps to calm the stress response by inhibiting the hormones that promote stress. Acupuncture is a proven treatment for stress and tension. It reduces stress hormones, releases endorphins and calms the mind. If you’ve never tried acupuncture and you are interested in experiencing it—or if you’re an acupuncture veteran and need to let go of stress—this event is for you! 

Thursday, October 10th 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Light Refreshments Provided 
$25 per person (includes an acupuncture treatment)

Florida Pathways to Health
13500 Sutton Park Dr S. Suite 203              
Jacksonville, FL 32224 
www.floridapathways.com 

Please RSVP, Space Limited:
(904) 992-9930 
[email protected]


  

Stagnation of qi (energy) is one of the most basic causes for disease in Chinese medicine--and a lot of us have it, especially if there is chronic stress in our lives.

Stagnation can manifest as pain in the body, digestive upset, tightness in the shoulders, chest or other parts of the body, a lump in the throat or stomach, depression of the spirit, sighing, mood swings and anger, hormonal imbalances (especially PMS) and more.

In Chinese medicine there must be smooth flow of energy in order to be healthy and happy.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can greatly improve qi stagnation. However, it is equally important for you to help yourself. If you start noticing behaviors, thoughts, patterns and activities that lead to stagnation and actively interrupt them, it will help alleviate the stagnation.

Ways to help yourself relieve stagnation:

• Notice when your shoulders are tense or you are holding/tightening any part of your body and actively let it relax. Common places for holding tension are the shoulders, neck and jaw. Some people will even notice their arms or legs may tighten. Start paying attention to where and when you tighten. Tightening in the body in response to certain people or situations can be a good clue that we need to remove ourselves from the interaction.
  

• Notice when you are thinking thoughts or having emotions that lead to anger, resentment or frustration. When you are having these emotions, just notice them and try not to get too bogged down in them. Try to figure out how to release them. Often forgiveness and acceptance of yourself and others is a good place to start. There is a Chinese medicine saying that "the qi follows the mind and the mind follows the qi." This means that our thoughts and emotions impact the smooth flow of qi throughout the body, and can lead to disease in the body as well as the mind. Please don't repress your emotions, as this can lead to even more stagnation. Instead, notice the emotion and experiment with accepting and releasing the emotion.
  

• If you are very inactive or sit for long periods of time, get moving. Exercise relieves qi stagnation. Just getting up to stretch and mobilize your joints can help quite a bit.

• Start noticing what is going on with your breath. The breath moves qi and is also qi itself. If you hold your breath, qi cannot flow. In stressful situations, we often hold our breath and some of us get into this pattern even when not under stress. Start paying attention to the breath and breathing deep into the belly when possible.
• Try to look at your lifestyle and see if you need to modify it. If your schedule is driving you crazy and leading to stagnation, it will be hard to fully regain your health and relieve your stress. Our modern world is demanding, and sometimes we have to learn to say no to one more commitment, project or dinner party. Having some unstructured time each day (or at least a few days a week) is helpful to allow the qi to flow.
  

Do you have any tips you would like to add?