Understanding the connection of the 5 major organ-emotion pairings is key to unlocking the healing potential of TCM. See below for the traditional Chinese medicine connection and imbalance between organs and emotions and how they contribute to mental and physical health issues.
ORGANS
Liver (Gall bladder)
In TCM, the liver is associated with anger, depression, and the below physical symptoms:
Function: Involved in the smooth flow of energy and blood throughout the body; regulates bile secretion and stores blood; is connected with the tendons, nails, and eyes
Emotions: Anger, resentment, frustration, irritability, bitterness, and "flying off the handle"
Symptoms of imbalance: Breast distension, menstrual pain, headache, irritability, inappropriate anger, dizziness, dry, red eyes, and other eye conditions, and tendonitis
Spleen (Stomach/ Pancreas)
In TCM, the spleen is linked to the following emotions and ailments:
Function: Food digestion and nutrient absorption, helping in the formation of blood and energy and keeping blood in the blood vessels; connected with the muscles, mouth, and lips; also involved in thinking, studying, and memory
Emotions: Excessive mental work such as worry, dwelling, or focusing too much on a particular topic
Symptoms of imbalance: Tiredness, loss of appetite, mucus discharge, poor digestion, abdominal distension, loose stools, diarrhea, weak muscles, pale lips, bruising, excess menstrual blood flow, and other bleeding disorders
Lung (Large Intestine)
In TCM, this organ is believed to be connected to grief and the following conditions:
Function: Respiration brings energy from the air and helps to distribute it throughout the body; they work with the kidney to regulate water metabolism; they are important in the immune system and for resistance to viruses and bacteria; they regulate sweat glands and body hair and provide moisture to the skin
Emotions: Grief, sadness, and detachment
Symptoms of imbalance: Shortness of breath and shallow breathing, sweating, fatigue, cough, frequent cold and flu, allergies, asthma, and other lung conditions, dry skin, depression, and excessive crying
Heart (Small intestine)
In TCM, this organ is linked with joy but the imbalance of joy is expressed as either too much (agitation or restlessness) or too little (depression). Below, are the mental and physical ailments linked with the heart:
Function: Regulates the blood circulation and blood vessels; responsible for even and regular pulse and influences vitality and spirit; connected with the tongue, complexion, and arteries
Emotions: Lack of enthusiasm and vitality, mental restlessness, depression, insomnia, and despair, excessive joy/over excitement
Symptoms of imbalance: Insomnia, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, excessive dreaming, poor long-term memory, and psychological disorders
Kidney
In TCM, the kidney is related to fear, which can manifest as chronic fear or anxiety when qi out of balance, as well as result in:
Function: Key organs for sustaining life; responsible for reproduction, growth and development, and maturation; involved with the lungs in water metabolism and respiration; connected with bones, teeth, ears, and head hair
Emotions: Fearful, weak willpower, insecure, aloof, and isolated
Symptoms of imbalance: Frequent urination, urinary incontinence, night sweats, dry mouth, poor short-term memory, low back pain, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, other ear conditions, premature grey hair, hair loss, and osteoporosis
EMOTIONS
Joy
An excess of joy affects the heart and refers to the states of agitation or over excitement, rather than the more passive notion of deep contentment.
It may cause:
Heart palpitations
Insomnia
Poor concentration, unclear thinking & poor memory
Agitation
Mania
Heart Attack
Anger
Anger leads to frustration, affecting the liver qi to stagnate, causing it to rise and can potentially causing problems with the stomach and the spleen
It may cause:
Headaches
Dizziness
Blurry vision
High blood pressure
Stroke
Thirst
Internal wind- seizure
Painful menstruation, PMS
Shortness of breath
Ringing in the ears
Red blotches on the front of the neck
Worry/ Overthinking
Worry stagnates or knots the Qi and depletes blood, it affects the digestive system and can cause digestive system disorders.
It may cause:
Digestive issues such as IBS, bloating or gas
Fatigue
Lethargy
Inability to concentrate
If it has progressed for an extended period of time it may also cause:
Insomnia
Palpitations
Dizziness
Forgetfulness
Excessive dreams
Grief
Unresolved grief which becomes chronic affects the lungs.
It may cause:
Asthma
A chronic cough
Shortness of breath
Frequent colds and flu
Anxiety and sorrow also affect the lungs and when chronic may cause:
Retention of breath
Shallow and irregular breathing.
Anxiety also injures the lung’s coupled organ which is the large intestine.
Anxiety or worry, related to the Spleen, depletes this organ’s Qi, potentially affecting the digestive process.
Sadness affects both the Lung, to which it is related, and the Heart. Sadness also depletes Qi.
Fright/Shock
Fright primarily affects the heart. If it’s felt for the prolonged period, it moves to the kidneys and then becomes fear.
It may cause:
Heart palpitations
Poor concentration and memory
Waking up suddenly at 5 am
Indecisiveness and confusion
Fear
It affects the kidneys, when fear is chronic and does not get address it can cause a disharmony.
It may cause:
Involuntary urination (mainly in children)
Back issues
Menstrual disorders
Sexual disorders
TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS & ORGANS IN HARMONY-
- Meditation, in particular the inner smile meditation
- Qi Gong
- Journal- write out your emotions and how you are feeling
- Talk about how you are feeling
- Get out in nature
- Reiki, crystal healing or other energy healing modalities
- Seek guidance from a professional such as chinese medicine practitioner, naturopath, herbalist etc
- Aromatherapy (Find the ones that I recommend here)