Welcome to 2025 and the Cycle of Worry
Well, 2025 started with a bang! In this climate it’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of constant worry. Whether it’s about work, relationships, or the future, we all experience stress and anxiety. However, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), worry is viewed as more than just a mental or emotional state — it has a direct, detrimental impact on our physical health. In this article, we’ll explore how worry can harm your organs according to TCM, and what you can do to alleviate its effects.
The Link Between Emotions and Health in TCM
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the mind and body are deeply interconnected. Each emotion is thought to correspond with specific organs in the body, and excess or prolonged emotions can cause imbalances that lead to illness. In the case of worry, this emotion is particularly associated with the Spleen.
Worry and the Spleen: A Fragile Relationship
In TCM, the Spleen is considered the organ that governs digestion, energy production, and the overall balance of the body’s Qi (vital energy). The Spleen is also seen as the "root of post-natal life," meaning it plays a central role in transforming food into energy and distributing that energy throughout the body.
However, when we experience excessive worry or rumination, it is believed to “deplete” the Spleen, causing it to become weak and overburdened. This imbalance can lead to several physical symptoms, such as:
- Digestive issues: Bloating, gas, and difficulty digesting food.
- Fatigue: Feeling drained or lethargic, even after adequate rest.
Weak immunity: Being more susceptible to illness due to a compromised digestive system. - Anxiety and overthinking: A cycle of mental restlessness that is rooted in emotional strain.
How Worry Weakens the Spleen
When we worry excessively, it’s as though our mind is constantly engaged in a low-level stress response. This prolonged emotional strain not only affects the mind but also taxes the Spleen's ability to function optimally. TCM holds that worry can cause the energy in the Spleen to become “stagnant” or “constricted,” leading to blockages and inefficiency in the flow of Qi.
Over time, this stagnation manifests physically, as the Spleen struggles to properly digest food, absorb nutrients, and transform them into usable energy. This results in the buildup of excess moisture and dampness in the body, leading to conditions like bloating, a feeling of heaviness, or poor circulation.
What Worry Does to Your Body: Other Organs Affected
While the Spleen is the primary organ impacted by worry, other organs can also be affected indirectly:
- Heart: The Heart in TCM is the "emperor" of the body, ruling the mind and spirit (Shen). Prolonged worry and mental strain can weaken the Heart, leading to symptoms like palpitations, insomnia, or anxiety.
- Lungs: Excessive worry can deplete the lungs’ ability to take in fresh air and energy (Qi). This can lead to shallow breathing, shortness of breath, or respiratory issues, as the Lungs become energetically “stagnant.”
- Kidneys: Chronic worry can lead to a depletion of the Kidney Qi, which governs vitality and the body’s ability to withstand stress. Over time, this may manifest as chronic fatigue, low back pain, or urinary issues.
How to Heal the Effects of Worry in TCM
The good news is that there are many ways to balance your emotions and restore harmony to your organs, even if you’re dealing with ongoing stress or worry.
1. Mindfulness and Meditation
Practicing mindfulness or meditation can help calm your mind, allowing you to detach from overwhelming thoughts and regain control over your emotional state. Simple techniques like deep breathing or guided meditation can help to restore balance to your Spleen and calm the Heart.
2. Dietary Adjustments
In TCM, food is medicine. Eating warm, nourishing meals that are easy to digest can support your Spleen and help alleviate the effects of worry. Opt for:
• Root vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots)
• Whole grains (rice, oats)
• Soups and broths (easy-to-digest and comforting)
• Ginger and cinnamon (known for their digestive and warming properties)
Avoiding cold or raw foods, which are harder for the Spleen to process, can be helpful as well.
3. Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps the body heal from stress and worry by restoring balance to the nervous system, improving circulation, and promoting the release of feel-good chemicals like endorphins. Here's how it works:
• Regulates the Nervous System – Acupuncture stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (the "rest and digest" mode), reducing the overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (the "fight or flight" response). This helps to calm the mind and body.
• Releases Endorphins & Neurotransmitters – It triggers the release of endorphins (natural painkillers) and serotonin (a mood stabilizer), which help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
• Improves Blood Circulation – By enhancing blood flow, acupuncture helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain and muscles, reducing tension and fatigue.
• Balances Hormones – Stress often disrupts the balance of cortisol and other hormones. Acupuncture helps regulate these levels, preventing chronic stress from wearing down the body.
• Reduces Muscle Tension – Many people carry stress in their shoulders, neck, and back. Acupuncture helps release muscle tension and promotes deep relaxation.
• Enhances Sleep Quality – Since stress and worry often cause insomnia, acupuncture can help by calming the nervous system and making it easier to fall and stay asleep.
• Promotes Emotional Release – Some acupuncture points are known to help process emotions, allowing stuck feelings to be released, which can provide relief from chronic worry and tension.
4. Herbal Remedies
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses herbal formulas to address worry and stress by balancing the body's energy (Qi), calming the mind (Shen), and nourishing the organs responsible for emotional well-being. Here are some of the best formulas for worry and stress:
• Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer)
1. Best for: Stress, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, digestive issues
2. How it works: Regulates Liver Qi stagnation (a common cause of stress and emotional tension), strengthens the Spleen, and nourishes Blood to support emotional balance.
3. Key herbs: Bupleurum (Chai Hu), White Peony (Bai Shao), Atractylodes (Bai Zhu), Poria (Fu Ling), Licorice (Gan Cao)
• Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
1. Best for: Overthinking, nervous tension, sleep disturbances, anxiety with heart palpitations
2. How it works: Calms the Shen (spirit), clears Liver stagnation, and settles excessive Yang energy (overactivity in the mind).
3. Key herbs: Bupleurum (Chai Hu), Dragon Bone (Long Gu), Oyster Shell (Mu Li), Scutellaria (Huang Qin)
• Gan Mai Da Zao Tang (Licorice, Wheat, and Jujube Decoction)
1. Best for: Emotional instability, excessive worry, restlessness, crying easily ("Zang Zao" syndrome—restless organ disorder)
2. How it works: Nourishes the Heart, calms the Shen, and supports the Spleen (which is linked to excessive worry in TCM).
3. Key herbs: Licorice (Gan Cao), Wheat (Fu Xiao Mai), Jujube (Da Zao)
• Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Heavenly Emperor Heart Nourishing Pills)
1. Best for: Stress-related insomnia, anxiety with heart palpitations, mental fatigue
2. How it works: Nourishes Heart Blood and Yin, calms the Shen, and relieves restlessness.
3. Key herbs: Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), Rehmannia (Sheng Di Huang), Ginseng (Ren Shen), Poria (Fu Ling)
• Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
1. Best for: Worry, overthinking, digestive weakness, fatigue, poor concentration
2. How it works: Strengthens the Spleen, which is responsible for mental clarity and emotional stability in TCM, while also calming the mind.
3. Key herbs: Atractylodes (Bai Zhu), Poria (Fu Ling), Ginseng (Ren Shen), Licorice (Gan Cao)
Each formula addresses different patterns of stress and worry. If you're unsure which one suits you best, consulting a TCM practitioner can help tailor the right formula for your needs. Are you looking for a formula for general stress relief or for a specific symptom like insomnia or digestive issues?
5. Qi Gong
Practices like Qi Gong (a type of gentle exercise focused on moving energy through the body) and acupuncture can help promote the flow of Qi, release blockages, and restore balance to both your mind and your organs.
6. Rest and Sleep
Lastly, getting proper rest is essential for replenishing the body’s energy reserves. Aim for deep, restorative sleep, which supports both the Spleen and the Heart. A good night’s rest allows your body to heal and process emotions, helping to reduce anxiety and worry.
Final Thoughts: Embrace Balance
In the world of TCM, it’s understood that emotions are powerful forces that influence our health, both mentally and physically. By addressing the root causes of worry and supporting our organs through lifestyle practices, we can create a sense of balance that promotes overall well-being. Remember, it’s not about avoiding stress altogether—life happens! But by integrating some of these TCM practices into your daily routine, you can build resilience against the harmful effects of worry.
Let Mend Family Acupuncture and Healthcare help you stay balanced and healthy and remember to take time for yourself!
