What the pain in your body is trying to tell you
Recently, I have seen so many patients in clinic experiencing pain - both at an emotional and physical level. I am not sure if it is a sign of the times, but so many people are still processing the trauma of the last few years. I am finding this has affected people in all kinds of ways - some feel more anxious and depressed and so experience emotional pain and maybe even grief. Others have manifested physical pain in the body which is of course tied to emotions. We never separate the physical and emotional body in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
When I aim to help them, I look at all the TCM diagnostic elements. I check their tongue and pulse, I palpate the tender areas, I look at the eyes, the colour of the skin on the face, I listen to the phrases and sentences they use and I try to connect to them in an empathic way. But every time, I am trying to ascertain - what has brought the pain? Is it the physical injury that is now causing more emotional distress or did emotional distress precede the physical imbalance?
There are different descriptions I look for to assist me with my TCM diagnosis - is the pain sharp? Does it move? Is it stabbing? Dull? Better for warmth? Better for movement? Does it prefer cold and rest? The answers to these questions will help me formulate my diagnosis. However, while I love TCM and I use this to inform my diagnosis, I am always drawn to looking at things in a metaphysical way and examining how emotions stagnate in different areas of the body and what they mean.
There is a particular book I was thinking of when I decided to write this blog, it’s called “When the body says no” by Dr Gabor Maté. If you haven’t read this book yet, I really recommend it. What his research explores is essentially what more ‘alternative’ and ancient medicines such as TCM recognise; that emotions are inseparable from our health and physiology, that repressed emotions can lead to disease, the role stress plays in conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, IBS, MS, arthritis and cancer and even - muscular tension.
Here are some common areas of muscular tension and how I see them:
Neck Pain
This is very common today with all the technology, computer and mobile phone use! If you think of your neck - this is what holds your head up. The throat chakra is located here which ties into our ability to speak our truth. Quite literally, when too much tension arises here, I see it as someone who has not felt they have been able to control their current surroundings or environment. Alternatively, they may have taken on too much and then not been recongised and appreciated. Looking for validation and not being able to control what is going on then manifests in rigidity and tension. From a TCM point of view, we know that the Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Bladder (posteriorly), Gallbladder & Liver primary meridians all pass through this area. This means it could be related to how we literally ‘digest’ life, what we hold onto and let go of (Large Intestine), what we are able to disguise and sort through as well as agitation (small intestine), fear and fright (bladder), anger and frustration ( liver) and indecision (gallbladder). Any of these emotions could be playing a part in your neck tension!
Upper Back
This area commonly gets tight - especially the trapezius area. Some people literally carry the burden and the weight of the world on their shoulders. Others may be curling into themselves in an attempt to be invisible and shy away from the world. There is also a big link here with being extremely empathic and absorbing other people’s energy. This is actually MY problem area which I am constantly trying to work on mainly because I feel other people’s pain so deeply that I sometimes take it on. From a more esoterical perspective, I also see this area related to ancestral trauma and carrying heavy loads for long distances, being disempowered for long periods of time. The key meridians for me here are the Gallbladder and Liver meridians - what frustrations and decisions do you need to release to move forward? What burdens do you need to let go of to move forward? How can you walk taller, open up and stand in your own power? The heart chakra is also located at this level so emotional release and feeling inner joy is important.
Lower Back
This is another extremely common area of pain that I see in clinic. Immediately, I always think of the adrenals and the kidneys when I hear complaints around this area. How fast are you burning through your essence and your kidney qi? Are you exhausting your adrenals and constantly pushing yourself beyond your limits? This area also corresponds to the root and sacral chakra so worries about security and finances can be an issue when experiencing pain here. What do you need to feel more secure, less rushed and less fearful? Being close to the kidneys and on the bladder channel the emotion of fear may come up a lot for you. How can you release this? What burdens can you release?
Whatever pain you are going through, know that there can be an improvement. Following Dr Gabor Maté’s 7 A’s of Healing - the first stage is Acceptance. The Acceptance and willingness to accept things as how they are, having compassion for yourself and then using that to move forward. Healing is not linear so many things might be needed to facilitate healing at this level.
For me a combination of manual therapy, acupuncture, appropriate naturopathic advice and emotional healing with things such as flower essences are key.
The other day, I was so happy when I received a message from a patient who had extreme tension along the lower back which went into the hip and across the abdomen. I was worried that this might be extremely tricky to solve because there were many factors at play. A few days later I was so happy to receive a message that after just one treatment 90% of the pain had disappeared. The treatment with acupuncture, cupping and Gua Sha clearly helped but so did holding space for that patient and giving them the courage to keep moving forward. Never loose hope - it is just around the corner, maybe over the hill - but it is always there.
To read more about any of the concepts mentioned today:
‘When the body says no’ By Dr Gabor Maté
‘Metaphysical Anatomy’ By Evette Rose