Fall 2008

Emotional and Mental Health

By Susanda Yee, Community Acupuncturist

Acupuncture is most often associated with pain management. Acupuncture, however, can also strongly affect our mental and emotional health. Not many people are aware that it is a great way to deal with problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Many of my clients experience mental and emotional disharmony. They may feel ungrounded, moody, anxious, mentally tired, and overwhelmed. A common pattern in clients is too much energy at the top of their bodies (head, neck,chest) and not enough at the bottom (pelvis, knees, feet) causing a top heaviness, and ungrounded state in the body. I see this especially in clients who have a lot on their minds, feel disconnected from themselves, and who are mentally over-stimulated and fatigued. One of my main goals as a community acupuncturist has been to increase a sense of power, awareness, and wholeness in clients and in communities. Through experience I have learned more about how our emotional and mental health affects our physical health; they should not be understood as separate states. I began integrating the information clients shared with me (such as details of their lives, daily stress, life goals) and this gave a more complete picture of their health pattern. As a result I was able to develop better and individualized treatments that addressed multiple health needs. Clients are often surprised by how good they feel after a treatment. Even when they may have come because of their “bad knee”, they go away feeling relaxed and more grounded. During an acupuncture treatment many clients experience a semi-conscious state. Some people dream, feel light, and have a sensation of floating. Some clients comment on a shift in time, as if they’ve been resting or asleep for a long time. When we’re in a deeply relaxed state we tap into our natural ability to heal ourselves. It allows us to dissolve our defenses and reconnect the compartmentalized and fragmented states we experience when we’re extremely stressed. The experience of acupuncture can take us to this relaxed (or defenseless) state. We can let go, drift in the sea of our consciousness. Acupuncture rebalances our energy. There is a reorganization and redistribution of Qi. Where Qi was stuck, it can begin to flow. It redistributes in the body so there is a sense of aliveness,
connectedness, & equilibrium.

Qi/Ki stagnation in everyday life….

By Lamia Gibson

Qi or Ki – life force energy – is in every living thing. It is the force that moves us, warms us, strengthens us, and keeps us alive and alert. When Ki stagnates it blocks the flow of energy in our channels, which in turn tightens the muscles along those channels. Whether mild or severe, the pain of muscle or joint tension can lead to grumpiness & fatigue. If the pain is severe or prolonged it can upset the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems and vice versa. For example, the Qi stagnation may start in the kidneys as a result of intense dehydration causing the kidneys to work in overdrive. The Kidney Ki stagnating will then cause the muscles around the kidneys to stagnate which then manifests on the surface of the body as a pain in the lower back. Qi stagnation is not only palpable physically. When we get ‘in a mood’ or have mood swings, this is an example of how our emotional Qi can stagnate. If the pain we experience feels better with movement, it is a sign of Ki stagnation. Whether emotional or physical presentations of Qi stagnation, we can improve by moving the body – literally getting yourself unstuck. If you can adopt regular movement in your life, something like simple stretches, going to the gym, yoga, biking, swimming, walking… movement is important to unblock Qi. If we get grumpy, and can’t get up and stretch or go for a run, we can breathe deep and visualize sending the frustration out of our bodies. It is important to right the wrongs, and to let go of the emotion. You can also stimulate the movement of Qi of the liver by drinking lemon water… a light lemon water (1/8 lemon, to one glass of water) is good in the morning to stimulate the liver and gall bladder to release bile and flush toxins. Add a glass of water after and you have a good start to the day. In this case less is more… Side stretches are good for stretching the GB channel, and loosening the tension of the liver.

Thank you

What are Trigger Points??

By Sandy Wallace

As a massage therapist, I am often asked about trigger points. What exactly are they?? Myofascial trigger points are painful spots within a muscle or it's fascia. They are tender to the touch and usually have a predictable pattern of pain referral. Trigger points cause the muscle to shorten, creating tension. Common causes for trigger points are poor posture, constricted muscles (from backpack straps, purses etc.),anxiety and depression, impaired sleep which may cause anxiety and increased muscle tension, and vitamin deficiencies. Some trigger points, particularly ones found in the muscles of the neck can cause muscle tension headaches. Massage therapists are trained to release these painful spots, which may provide great relief to those who suffer!

Sandy Wallace, RMT

Bio: I am a graduate of Everest College and a Registered Massage Therapist, licensed by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. I'm currently attending Yoga Teachers Training at Vidya Institute in Toronto. I am happy to join a great team of practitioners here at Six Degrees

Thoughts to chew on...

By Matt Sedo

Knowing how to eat is getting ridiculous! At any given time in the paper, on TV, or in the supermarket there are new breakthroughs on how much B12 one needs, how to combine food, calorie intake, Raw, macrobiotic, zone, alkaline, detox, high protein. Ahhh! Food is moving further away from the sensual experience of eating to an intellectual one. mmmm that protein looks good, is it homemade? There are some simpler approaches to eating:

• Be aware of the energetic quality of food and how it affects you.

By energy I mean what the food does to you in relation to the state of your body. For example, chilies are hot. They bring energy to the surface, induce perspiration, and open the lungs. If you already have a lot of heat in your body (sweat a lot, feel agitated, or have red eyes) hot sauce, or any heating foods, will probably make you feel worse.

• Use food as medicine.

If you do put extra hot sauce on your roti and feel worse this gives you some insight into the energetic state of your body. If you know hot foods agitate you, opt for something cold. Inversely, if you’re congested, cold, or lethargic, hot sauce can make you feel better.

• Enjoy it.

Turn off the TV, sit down with good people, and chew. Being preoccupied while eating, or inhaling food can lead to poor assimilation and food stagnation, all of which contribute and add to other health problems.

• The rotation method.

People have never had the kind of access to the varieties of food as we do today, yet we habitually consume the same things. Mix up flavors and colors. Rotate with the seasons. Avoid eating the same thing everyday. This will ensure you getting all the nutrients with out having to rely too much on vitamins and supplements
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• Eat food not “food.”

If you can’t pronounce it you should avoid it. These foods are designed for a long shelf live and in the process lose most of their nutritional value or energies. Try sticking to food less processed and fresh. There are endless lists of how food can be energetically grouped according to food theory in Chinese medicine. Of course, this is not a one to one match to reality. Every culture makes associations with food and they are often contradictory. The great thing is we can use this information, experiment for ourselves, and lead healthier and happier lives.

Be well!