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