By Jason Moskovitz, L.Ac., dipl.O.M.
Intense or prolonged emotions can
cause physical problems. Anger, fear, worry, sadness
and joy fluctuate normally throughout our
lives. In excess, they can decrease the circulation
of energies and substances throughout the body
and lead to sickness. This month you’ll learn how
to unblock these habitual emotions.
ANGER is mitigated with exercise and stretching.
tendons and muscles put our intentions into
action. Ensuring these tissues are nourished and
supple is what keeps blood, energy and emotions
moving smoothly. The extreme experience
of shaking and being entirely overcome with
anger can be avoided through movement.
FEAR can be soothed with a hot epsom salts
foot bath. Both the salts and the focus on the
feet ground your energy. A foot bath can also
correct the sensations of rising energy common
to
Anxiety. If you’re having trouble sleeping, an epsom salts foot bath right before bed is relaxing.
WORRY can be lessened with daily meditation.
The quality is much more important than the
quantity.Try three minutes of awareness of your
breath per day for two weeks. Sit comfortably
and keep your eyes slightly open to avoid sleeping.
The key is to allow your thoughts to come and
go naturally until they slow down and you feel
more peaceful, always returning your attention
to your breath. While stillness is the focus, avoid
the rigid idea that you must avoid thinking.
Mental chatter can be minimized by listening
to soothing music or repeating a phrase while
breathing, such as inhaling with “I am,” and
exhaling with “calm.”
SADNESS is erased when our respiratory system
is strong. The image of a person depressed
and hunched forward is indicative of weak chest
and lung energies. Improve lung function by eating
apples, Asian pears, broccoli, goji berries, lima
beans and pecans. exercise, chi gong and meditation
strengthen your respiratory system as well.
JOY is a positive emotion that becomes detrimental
only when excessive. Avoid stimulating
foods like caffeine, alcohol, sugar, citrus juice and
hot peppers. overexcitement is prevented by
spending time with relaxed individuals, engaging
in caring conversation and pacing yourself during
exercise. “No pain, no gain” does not apply here.