Stress, Modern Life and TCM

Our modern life is stressful. We have pressure filled jobs, we live in fast paced congested cities, and we don’t always get enough sleep or healthy food. So, what can TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), which has been around for about three thousand years, do to help us deal with this modern life?

When the principles of TCM were being formulated, most Chinese people were living in the countryside working every day growing food. This was very physical and stressful for the people. The Chinese have a saying, “no work, no rice”. There was also mental stress involved, as the farmers had to deal with drought or floods, both of which could mean not enough food to eat.

We know that prolonged stress can cause changes in the body. When we are stressed muscles will tighten up, our breathing becomes shallow, and we may experience pain. Stress can also lead to chronic inflammation, which may lead to acute or low grade chronic pain. Recent studies suggest that chronic inflammation may lead to or contribute to the development of various diseases.

TCM is focused on improving the body’s health and functioning through free and balanced flowing of the energy (chi) through the body’s energy channels (meridians). This is accomplished through different means. TCM therapies, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, rubbing (qua sha), and reflexology activate the acupressure points or meridians directly or indirectly. Herbal therapy, food, taichi practice and chigong (energy exercises) will indirectly affect the flow of energy.

When we are stressed our muscles tend to contract, which hinders the flow of energy and blood throughout the body. This is why it is so important to be as relaxed as possible. This is why TCM says that the best exercises for health are taichi, yoga and walking. They have in common a relaxed body, and peaceful mind, which is vital to the flowing of energy.

When customers come in for our services we highly recommend that they turn off their electronic devices, and relax their minds and bodies. This helps them to achieve the most benefit from the service, because this promotes the free flowing of energy. This is why a lot of our customers fall asleep during the service, their minds are at ease, their bodies relax, and the energy flows. Afterwards they feel more energy, and they move more easily. This state of deep relaxation can linger for several days after a service, and this is why many people report improved sleep.

Modern life can be stressful, but we can counteract the negative effects by utilizing TCM therapies, and other Chinese methods such as taichi and chigong. I start every day with yoga exercises, then I do taichi, and finish up with chigong breathing exercises. I can truthfully say that after over twenty four years of practicing these health methods, along with TCM therapies, I am healthier now that I was in my younger days.

Health and Fitness or Health vs Fitness

When I was younger I thought that the terms “Health” and “Fitness” were mostly interchangeable. But, twenty years of back pain, even when I was extremely fit changed my view of health. Now I am convinced that they are very different things. In the 70’s and 80’s western thinking was that you needed to exercise vigorously in order to be healthy. So, lots of people, including myself started running or doing other strenuous aerobic activity. In my case I became very fit, but not really healthy. Still had back pain, and still got sick on a regular basis. I had at least three or four colds a year.

A few years ago, I read an article telling of how a runner had a sudden heart attack, and died. This man had been running over forty miles a week for twenty five years. My wife said, “of course”. I was confused,  how could a very fit man have died suddenly, and why my wife said of course he died. She explained that in TCM, fitness and health are viewed as totally different things. That healthy exercise consists of slow movements, that don’t cause you to sweat too much, or your heart to beat too fast. They say the three best exercises for health are: Tai Chi, Yoga, and walking. They also say that swimming and doing a little slow paced running is fine, if you want to be a little fitter. You should do them no more than a few days a week.

It seems that western thinking on exercise and health has been changing lately. Some of the recommendations concerning the intensity and frequency of exercise were based on incorrect assumptions. The exercise guidelines put out in the 70’s were taken from watching elite competitive athletes and modified slightly for the general population. Today’s guidelines are calling for less frequent exercise at a reduced intensity for optimal health. Seems too much of a good thing really is bad for you.

So today I practice tai chi, yoga, stretching and walking and feel much better physically than I did thirty years ago, even though I may not be able to run as far or fast as I did then. But, I don’t get sick as often, no low back pain and I can still do the things I like to do. For me health is much more important that being extremely fit.