There's a saying, "worrying is praying backwards"...
Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, are able to feel "worry" while taking pulses. We can often feel worry of the Earth pulses in the Spleen and Stomach meridians.When the Earth is imbalanced.... everything is imbalanced.
Why would this be a concern?Because these pulses tend to have Qi flowing backwards in the meridians.
That "backward flow" means that the energy is reversed. Because this disordered flow can cause difficulties in several of the other organs and meridians, it can have a strong negative effect on the kidneys (aka - adrenals), which is never a desirable outcome.
The kidney energy provides energy resources for all of the other meridians of the body.When the Kidney Energy is used up... we are used up.Any movement that depletes the Kidney Qi (or adrenals) should be a concern.
Worry is the most damaging and least helpful of the emotions, because it generally freezes us in a state of victimhood and a lack of movement. Even anger has a positive effect of creating action.
So what should we do when we worry?
Understand that "to worry" in Chinese Medicine means to overthink, ruminate, overwork, perseverate.
All these things have the same effect.They stress the Earth, Spleen and Stomach Qi and robe us of our vital energy.
Worry is our most negative emotion, in that it never gives back.
After a good cry, there is usually a release. Same thing for expressing frustration or anger ... generally there is a calm after the storm.
But worry just keeps going, creating a negative feedback loop between mind and body.
When we can understand that the emotion "worry" is creating an unhealthy situation, the cognitive dissonance may be enough to change your pattern on your own.
And if that didn't work... here are a few tips...
#1: Set aside a time and place in your home for worrying. Whenever a worry thought comes during the day, put it away to pull out only during this set aside time. This is where you can just "worry."
Set a timer for 25 minutes and go for it! (Most can't do it and it may show you how unpleasant worry is.)
#2, Make a "worry list" with TWO columns.Column 1: Write down things you worry about that are in your control, then do something about it immediately.Column 2: Write down things that you worry about that are out of your control, then let it go.
#3, Get acupuncture!Acupuncture is a great way to break those patterns and to have you Qi flowing in a more balanced way. In fact, alleviating anxiety and worry are two of the most common things treated with acupuncture.
Stopping the worry pattern as soon as possible, is one of the best ways to protect your Kidney Qi (aka.. adrenals).
Writen by Dr. John Nieters, DAOM, L.Ac, M.Sc. CFMP
