The relationship between the body and the mind has always been one of unity, connection and interdependence within the system of Chinese medicine. Disharmony or “dis-ease” presents itself with a symptom/sign – perhaps an ache, a fever, fatigue, heart palpitations, changes in appetite, and more. These signs are assessed by the doctor, suggestions for remedies are made to alleviate discomfort, and the underlying reason for the “dis-ease” is also addressed. Symptoms – the outward conversation between the inner and outer body – are seen as messengers, helping to guide us to redirect our attention and follow the clues so that harmony can be restored in the body.
Dr. Candace Pert (1946-2013), who stated “your body is your subconscious mind” was an internationally recognized neuroscientist and pharmacologist who published over 250 research articles. She was a significant contributor to the emergence of Mind-Body Medicine as an area of legitimate scientific research in the 1980’s, earning her the title of “The Goddess of Neuroscience” and “The Mother of Psychoneuroimmunology” by her many fans. When I first read her brilliant book, The Molecules of Emotions, back in 1997, it reaffirmed my belief that our bodies are magnificent and capable of healing, if only we listened to our innate wisdom.
The internal biochemicals populating our body, the neuropeptides and their receptors, are the actual biological underpinnings of our awareness. They manifest themselves as our emotions, beliefs and expectations, and profoundly influence how we respond to and experience our world. Viruses use these same receptors to enter into a cell, but the virus’ ability to infiltrate depends on how much of the natural peptide for that receptor is around. You might know what this feels like – after working hard and pushing your boundaries before a vacation or holiday, you succumb to a head cold or exhaustion, and loved ones are saying “you are run down and your immunity is low.” Our emotional state will affect whether we’ll get sick from the same loading dose of a virus.
Our thoughts and emotions are capable of creating wellness or dis-ease in our bodies, and since the brain is integrated into the body at a molecular level, neither can be treated separately without the other being directly affected. The immune system, like the central nervous system, has memory and the capacity to learn, so the truth is that intelligence is located not only in the brain but in cells that are distributed throughout the body. The immune system can be conditioned consciously using self-regulatory practices such as breathwork, meditation and self-hypnosis.
All of this is great news and exciting information!! But if you are reading about this for the first time, be assured that this concept is not new, nor without substance and conclusive research, but not always spoken about in the treatment rooms of conventional practitioners. According to Chinese medicine, the Heart is the Sovereign Emperor, through which all emotions are processed. But what if we halt that process? What if we consciously choose to allow those unexpressed emotions to find harbor in the body? Remember this: EMOTIONS run through the body and complete their path within 90 seconds – so if you can find a way to slow down, breathe, and allow your emotions to flow, you will be supporting your health of body, mind and spirit. Suppressing emotions contributes to the development of a disease, but when emotions are expressed, all systems are united and made whole. When emotions are repressed, denied, not allowed to be whatever they may be, our network pathways get blocked, stopping the flow of the vital feel-good unifying chemicals that run both our biology and our behavior.
Neuroscience research tells us that the brain processes between 6000 to 80,000 thoughts per day – way too many to be consciously following. YET, those imprints of data remain in the neural pathways, firing off information that might not always be relevant nor helpful. Combine that with the fact that, according to neuroscience, we are all operating at 97% subconsciously or with only 3% of conscious awareness. Imagine that all those programs from our early childhood moments to all that we read, listen to and watch are constantly hijacking our daily thoughts and our subsequent behaviors.
How to change this scenario??
First, we need to return to the body – the “soma” of the psychosomatic word. Consider it a homecoming of sorts … begin to be mindful of your thoughts, your breath, your movement, your habits. Just observe in the beginning without judgment – just allow yourself to witness and be present with your Self. That is the beginning. Take a walk in nature, put down the phone for 10 minutes, decrease your activity on social media, read an inspirational book, prioritize your sleep, take an epsom salt bath … the possibilities are endless and rewarding when you begin to be with yourself to quiet the mind and detach from the external distractions.
As a practitioner of Chinese medicine and as an accredited Integrative Hypnotist and Changeworker, I have many options available to support your wellness journey and give you the tools to create your own healing endeavors. Reach out for more info.
“Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are … The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.”
~ Pema Chödrön
