Over worrying, overthinking, and excess thinking (over use of intellect) can impact the spleen

• Thinking is good and normal, this is how we are wired to make decisions.  Worrying is also good and normal because it is what keeps us safe and stable.  When you overthink or over worry, that’s when this type of activities overtake other activities and imbalances how and where our energy (Qi) flow.  While the spleen is the organ of thinking (and meditation), it’s very closely connected to the function of the heart to house the mind.  This is also connected to the digestive systems, including stomach and intestines.

• Excess worry or thinking impacts the spleen.  The spleen from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective is an important organ because it is the source of Qi and blood.  The spleen shows up through the mouth and has outward manifestations through the lips.  Saliva is also the fluid of the spleen.  The spleen helps transform food and water into essence and move it all around the body.

• Overthinking and over worry and impact to the spleen shows up as: weak or stagnant Qi which can be seen as stomachaches, stomach ulcers, imbalanced water within the body (too much saliva), excess moisture in the body, indigestion, or weight challenges, changes in taste of food (tasteless or bitter tasting all the time), pale lips.

• To help with overthinking or over worry, there are a few strategies you can try which can include meditation, yoga, breath work (or breathing exercises), finding joyful activities, seeking counselling or coaching or help.

Joy and happiness impacts the heart

• The physiological function of the heart is related to joy and happiness.  The heart is in charge of all the body’s mental activities, and controls both the spirit and the mind, excessive joy or other emotional states (such as excess grief, which takes away from joy) can take away the heart’s ability to healthily monitor and manage our Spirit (shen) and Mind.

• Excess shows up as an imbalance in the heart (and mind as they are connected) and has symptoms like difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, confusion, dreams or disturbed sleep.

• The color and condition of the tongue is also an indicator of the state of the heart as this is the outward manifestation of the heart.  You can check for color, sense of taste (or changes in that), tongue rigidity and cracks (if any), and feeling of the tongue (does it feel rough?).

• To help, rest and sleep aid in filtering your heart and balancing these emotions in the body.  This also includes meditation, disconnecting, reflecting, or acupuncture.

• One great ingredient to use is Korean ginseng.  It’s warming, supports Qi deficiency, targets the heart, lungs, and spleen, and supports weak or lost appetite (can also be used for excess worry above since that impacts the appetite).  You can make this with a Double-boiled Korean ginseng in Chicken Soup.

Sadness of grief impacts the lungs or large intestines

• The lungs are the most delicate organ of the body as it’s most susceptible to pathogens and do not fare well in excess cold (yin) or heat (yang).  The lungs connect and open to the nose and associated with the skin and show up in body hair.  

• Excess sadness and grief as associated with the lungs and consume Qi in the body.  Prolonged duration of sadness or grief can damage the lungs, as the Qi is not flowing sufficient or appropriately throughout the body as needed for normal functionality.

• This shows up in symptoms such as shortness or tightness of breath, the tightness of the chest is a one (and damaging if it’s tight over prolonged periods), random or spontaneous sweating (as the lungs ability to perform show up through the skin), and cold or cough (with phelgm from the lungs).

• To help with this it is important to either address the cause of sadness and grief or find ways to heal from it to bring oneself back into balance.  Seek support, therapy, coaching or counselling, find space and time to reflect and meditate and heal, focus your energy on things that bring you joy, or exercise are all ways to reduce sadness and grief.

Fear is connected to the kidney

• Fear is a normal part of our lives.  We have fear so that we can stay safe, physiologically and physically and even psychologically.  However, too much fear to the point it overwhelms is when it can cause damage to the kidneys (which houses the finite essence called Jing).  It is about regulating and managing the fear.

• Excess shows up insomnia, irritability, dizziness, confusion, mental disorders, 

• You can’t completely eliminate fears, especially physical ones that pop up on you no matter how much risk you’ve managed, but we can control how we respond, how we plan, and how we manage ourselves around and with fears.  

Anger is connected to the liver

• The liver is the organ that is associated with growth and expansion, physically and emotionally.  If the liver’s mission is interrupted (interruption to movement and growth), anger usually results.  This means the liver-fire is strong and the yin and yang is imbalanced.

• Excess such as anger, frustration, resentment, shows up as dizziness, instable menstruation, insomnia, headaches, poor sleep, or tension in the neck and shoulders

• A healthy amount of anger is necessary, as when to speak up, enforcing our boundaries, but it is the excess and prolonged excess of this that is damaging.  It is about managing and balancing the appropriate amount and at the right times.

• Useful herbal teas or soups to support calming the liver-fire are more cooling or yin based teas and drinks.  This can include a Cooling Flower Tea, or a Cooling Chrysanthemum Roselle Tea, or a Wintermelon and Baby Corn Tea