I recently heard mental health being compared to dental health. It is something we need to take care of daily to ensue a healthy and strong state of being.
Whilst we cover a brief component of mental health whilst studying Chinese Medicine - it does not compare to the vast knowledge, experience and officialdom of a mental health care professional. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your self, its in the name - health care/self care.
If you, or someone you know is struggling emotionally or menally, contact a mental health professional. Here is a link to a variety of support lines via Mental Health Australia.
Self Care
Recognising that you are worthy of care, attention and healing can be the first step towards a happier life for some people.
I often encourage my patients to build up their ‘tools in their tool-belt’ when it comes to self care. It may be a process, but finding the right modalities and practitioners that fit with your personality and situation is key in long term healing and well being.
Here are some modalities that I have recommended to my patients and why:
Primary Care
- Counselling/psychology/psychiatry: Having an outside perspective from an educated and experienced mental health care provider is pivotal in understanding your own situation and how to move forward.
Adjunct Therapies
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine: These help address the source of stress and relieve symptoms of stress that are playing out in your body such as insomnia, palpitations or low energy. More about Mental Health from a Chinese Medicine perspective below.
- Hypnotherapy: This modality is excellent in dealing with the subconscious. Also for treating addictions that can hinder mental health such as drug and alcohol dependency.
- Group Meditation: This can offer a positive environment for sharing a group healing experience. It is also encouraging to see and meet other people who are motivated to learn more about themselves and and how to achieve a calm state of being.
- Energy Healing and Reiki: I have found both of these modalities to be deeply healing. It may also offer the change you need to take the next step in your life, whether that is making a change or commitment or loosening the restrictions you have made for yourself and others.
-Diet, Rest and Exercise: These should really be at the top of the list. In order to function mentally and emotionally we need these basic physical foundations to be in place in whatever capacity is possible at the time.
Chinese Medicine and Mental Health
According to Chinese Medicine the emotions play a vital role in health and can have a significant role in disease. Different emotions effect the body in a myriad of ways. It may be a ‘chicken or the egg’ situation, where you are unsure if it is the illness or emotional stress that started first.
Each of the organs in the body can be impacted more significantly by different emotions:
Lungs - Greif
Spleen & Stomach - Worry and overthinking
Liver - Anger and Frustration
Kidneys - Fear
Heart - Over excitement
Gall Bladder - Indesciciveness
Any of these emotions may spill over to effect the function of one organ or another.
For example - Excessive stress or frustration may impede the Liver’s role of moving Qi around the body resulting in headaches and a red complexion. But because the Qi is backing up and unable to move it impairs the neighbouring organs of the Lungs and the Stomach causing shortness of breath and acid reflux.
As seen in recent, widely available studies, the correlation between stress and its physiological effects on the body are clear. Please visit the Information Page and click on the Mental Health icon for more on the effects of stress on the body.
Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine can assist in shifting these emotions and strengthening your body’s resistance to stress. Please contact me for any further information.
-Dr. Stephanie Luxton (Chinese Medicine)