| Have you ever wondered why we associate so | | | | particularly migraines. |
| many of our emotions with particular internal | | | | |
| organs? | | | | - Clamping a hand over the mouth in response |
| | | | to shock or surprise. In this case the |
| In some cases we actually feel our emotions | | | | purpose appears to be the linking of two |
| internally, such as the churning in the | | | | special meridians, the "central vessel" that |
| stomach that comes from nervous excitement | | | | runs up the front of the body and ends on the |
| ("butterflies") or the deep sobs associated | | | | lower lip and the "governing vessel" that |
| with grief. Also, the sudden onset of fear | | | | runs up the back and over the head to end on |
| can have an unfortunate effect on the | | | | the upper lip. Every meridian is either yin |
| bladder. | | | | or yang and these two special meridians |
| | | | regulate all yin (central) and yang |
| In other cases, the connection is | | | | (governing) energies, so keeping them in sync |
| metaphorical: we refer to bitter anger as | | | | is important for overall balance. |
| "bile" and talk about people who make us | | | | |
| angry as having lots of "gall," both of which | | | | - Linking the two sides of our bodies, such |
| are references to the liver/gall bladder duo. | | | | as clasping our hands together or crossing |
| Joy and its counterpoint sadness are strongly | | | | our feet. This promotes lateral balance in |
| associated with the heart ("heartfelt joy" | | | | our energy bodies, another important element |
| and "broken heart"). | | | | of healthy functioning. Every meridian has |
| | | | two branches, one on either side of the body. |
| It would be easy to rationalize these | | | | In addition to flowing properly on its own, |
| associations as nothing more than quaint | | | | each meridian must also remain in contact |
| notions inherited from less scientific times, | | | | with its counterpart on the other side, so |
| but in my work as an energy therapist, I have | | | | when we cross our legs or clasp our hands |
| come to understand the complex connections | | | | together we are promoting communication |
| between our emotions and our physical bodies. | | | | between the two halves of our energy body |
| | | | (half the meridians begin or end on the |
| According to the tradition of energy studies | | | | fingers and half begin or end on the feet). |
| that originated thousands of years ago in | | | | These gestures therefore help us to achieve a |
| China, emotions are an expression of our life | | | | greater degree of relaxation or |
| energy, called "chi." This energy flows | | | | concentration. |
| through 12 primary channels or meridians, | | | | |
| each of which is associated with a major | | | | We also encounter the energy body when we |
| organ or physical system: lung; large | | | | enjoy a massage. We all know how good a |
| intestine; kidney, bladder, stomach, spleen, | | | | massage makes us feel, but the question is, |
| liver, gall bladder, heart, small intestine, | | | | why does it affect our emotions in addition |
| circulatory system, and thyroid. Each of | | | | to our muscles? |
| these meridians governs a particular set of | | | | |
| physical, emotional and mental | | | | The explanation lies in the correlation that |
| characteristics. | | | | exists between the muscles and the meridians. |
| | | | In addition to being related to the major |
| It is interesting to note, therefore, that | | | | organs, every meridian is also associated |
| worry and anxiety do in fact correlate with | | | | with two or three major muscles. Stress in |
| the stomach/spleen pair of meridians, grief | | | | one is reflected in the other and treating |
| with the lung/large intestine pair, anger | | | | one will likewise have a beneficial effect on |
| with the liver/gall bladder, and joy with the | | | | the other. |
| heart meridian. And the kidney/bladder pair | | | | |
| does indeed govern the emotion of fear. | | | | So a shoulder massage that melts away the |
| | | | built-up stress of a hard day at the office |
| It may be helpful to consider the view that | | | | is actually treating the energy of the kidney |
| we actually have two bodies - the physical | | | | meridian, which is related to the muscles of |
| and the energetic - which are intrinsically | | | | the upper shoulder and lower neck. The kidney |
| linked like the yin and yang in the | | | | meridian is a particularly "emotional" |
| well-known symbol. In a way, they co-create | | | | meridian and an important regulator of all |
| each other: the energy body provides life to | | | | the emotions and meridians. |
| the physical body which in turn provides the | | | | |
| basic form for the energy body. | | | | A back massage is the ultimate energetic |
| | | | physical body treatment because it influences |
| In fact, without knowing it, we all display | | | | the entire energy body in a number of ways. |
| an innate understanding of the synergistic | | | | First of all, the bladder meridian runs down |
| relationship that exists between these two | | | | the back, so a massage here directly affects |
| bodies. Here are some examples: | | | | this important pathway. |
| | | | |
| - Pinching the bridge of the nose between the | | | | The bladder meridian is unique in that a |
| eyes when anxious. On either side of the | | | | number of its acupoints (the same points |
| bridge of the nose is the starting point of | | | | acupuncturists use) are also directly related |
| the bladder meridian, a major regulator of | | | | to each of the other meridians, so the |
| all chi functions. So when we pinch the | | | | effects of working this channel are |
| bridge under stress, what we are really doing | | | | transmitted throughout the energy body. The |
| is stimulating the bladder meridian. | | | | bladder meridian is associated with the |
| | | | muscles that work the spine, so massaging |
| - Putting a hand over the collarbones in | | | | them further enhances the effect on the |
| response to shock. This serves a similar | | | | bladder energy. |
| purpose but with regard to the bladder's | | | | |
| partner, the kidney meridian, which ends just | | | | And finally, a back massage also includes |
| under the collarbones. Just as a shock can | | | | other muscles on the back and shoulders that |
| "set you back" it can affect the flow of your | | | | correspond to other meridians. |
| meridians and even throw them into reverse. | | | | |
| Touching or tapping under the collarbones | | | | Hopefully this information has helped reveal |
| corrects any meridian reversals that might | | | | the complexity that lies beneath those |
| exist. | | | | aspects of our being that we tend to take for |
| | | | granted. If nothing else, next time you feel |
| - Rubbing of the temples to combat a | | | | like treating yourself to a massage, you can |
| headache. This is an effort to moderate an | | | | think of it as a medical necessity rather |
| imbalance in the gall bladder meridian, which | | | | than a guilty pleasure. |
| crosses the temples and ends beside the eyes. | | | | |
| The gall bladder meridian winds its way back | | | | Your energy body will thank you for it and |
| and forth across the sides of the head and is | | | | will reward you with better physical and |
| implicated in many types of headaches, | | | | emotional health. |