I’m naturally a nervous person, so believe me when I say I’ve tried every trick in the book to calm down when stress gets the better of me.
So for me when i was anxious and wasn’t sleeping well – something like Chinese medicine for stress relief, may have been a better fit than the pills I was prescribed.
The concept behind traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is, essentially, that your body already has the tools it needs to heal itself from the inside out. To better understand this, think about what your body’s like when you’re sick: Your muscles feel achy, your head is congested, and you feel crummy both on the inside and on the outside, right? Well, according to Chinese medicine, it works both ways: Stress and anxiety can affect your physical health, and in order to guarantee that that doesn’t happen, there are little, everyday behaviours you can adopt.
1. MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR EATING HABITS
I am a living, breathing example of how anxiety can affect your gut health and spiral into a physical and psychological mess. When I’m stressed, my stomach starts to bother me with cramps and constipation – others will lean more towards looser stools.
Now, eating more of the good stuff (fruits, veggies, etc.) and less of the bad stuff isn’t exactly an automatic quick-fix – however things like mushrooms — which are known to have adaptogenic elements, meaning they can help reduce stress — dark leafy greens for their vitamin B, and whole grains should be added to your meals to “help rebalance [the nervous system].”
Also think about eating at regular times – especially your breakfast – as well as eating slowly and uncomplicated foods.
2. BREAK SOME EGGS (LITERALLY) OR DO SOME BOXING
Finding a physical outlet is an epic way to let out some stress this all comes back to your liver, as Anger / stress are the main emotions related to the Liver, When you’re feeling particularly stressed out or irritable, the worst thing you can do is hold all of that in. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to find ways to let the stress of even the most minor annoyances out of your system.
The Liver being stagnant can be responsible for physical muscle pain, period pain, headaches, digestive upset and twitches.
3. MEDITATION
It can be daunting at first to sit down and bask in the quiet (or loudness) of your own thoughts, but given the purported benefits of meditation, it’s got its merit. And if the idea of sitting makes you restless, there are other forms of meditation out there for you to try, such as journaling or listening to a guided practice. Me personally? I gave my mediation wheels and take it with me on a walk. That’s when i empty my head the best.
4. WALK AROUND BAREFOOT
Going sock-less at the office might sound a little gross, but traditional Chinese medicine says barefoot is the way to be. The idea behind this concept — which is called “earthing,” I regularly recommend my patient to get in nature , showed off and back to the sun – think of your back like a solar panel for your organs and it needs to be charged,
The addition of being barefoot during this process seems to really augment the benefits for anxiety. I direct them to visualise the anxious feelings being absorbed by the earth and dissipating from their bodies. I wouldn’t suggest ditching your entire collection of Adidas sneakers, but try going barefoot occasionally.
5. GET YOUR BODY MOVING WITH QIGONG
Qigong is a full-body experience that combines meditation with tai chi movements. According to the wellness website Energy Arts, this exercise is meant to be gentle, and it requires you to repeat a sequence of movements over and over again, “building awareness of how the body moves through space.
In traditional Chinese Medicine, the belief is that most of your physical ailments are a result of mental stress and instability, and when you nurse the latter, you’re better able to heal the former. Qigong is physical in practice, but the focus is on mental clarity, in order to produce that calming domino effect.
6. RELEASE MUSCLE TENSION WITH ACUPUNCTURE
When you’re stressed, do you tend to feel a kink in your neck, or sore in your back? A stress doesn’t just make you feel tense; it makes you physically tense, too, so it makes sense why acupuncture is a popular traditional Chinese remedy for stress.
Stress and anxiety would have to be one of the top things i treat in clinic.
Foods That Give You Energy In The Morning, So You’re Set Up For Success
I am suggesting that you pay attention to your food choices, how your first meal affects how you feel for the entire day, and to make adjustments accordingly. Oats, Eggs, Salmon, honey and greens are some of my favourite staples. – We all know I am a big fan of soup for breakfast.
Most of the foods that aid the circulation and dispersion of stagnant qi caused by stress are spices or foods with a pungent flavour. The pungent flavour helps to move qi upwards and outwards, preventing it from stagnating. However, it is important to avoid foods which are very hot and spicy as these can contribute to the formation of internal heat.
Some of the best examples of foods that prevent qi stagnation are:
- Caraway
- Cardamom
- Cayenne
- Cloves
- Garlic
- Peppermint
- Turmeric
- Carrots
- Fennel
- Radish
- Watercress
- Peaches
- Plums
There is not one of our practitioners in clinic that can’t help you with your stress – give us a call today and see who is right for you. 02 8406 0679
