The Importance of Joy
Acupuncture & Techniques from Traditional Chinese Medicine by Lynne Drakos
Are you feeling tired and sluggish? Brought down by emotion overload, busy schedules and stress? In our day to day efforts to eat well and keep up with meditation or the latest health craze it is easy to miss one of the most fundamental needs for health in our lives – JOY. Joy and pleasure release endorphins that improve our sense of wellbeing.
Having practiced Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for 30 years now I have asked many patients questions about their health and well-being in my office. I inquire about their sleep, energy, menstrual cycle, digestion and if they suffer with headaches. I also evaluate their stress level and emotional state. These days with our political and economic upheaval, keeping up with increasingly busy schedules, and trying to simply maintain our everyday lives…serenity seems to be a bit elusive.
Each day I hear over and over that my patients have trouble sleeping and are experiencing anxiety and depression. And when I ask them what they would like more of in life or what they feel is lacking, the answer I hear over and over is.….JOY!
In Chinese Medicine, JOY is the emotion belonging to the fire element. It is housed in the heart along with love. Peacefulness of the spirit and tranquility of the mind are indicative of the harmonious workings of the heart.
If the heart energy is disturbed by confusion, stress, or anger it becomes out of balance and results in anxiety, fearfulness, and sadness.
My patients who are lacking joy in their life often complain of insomnia, heart palpitations, night sweats, excessive or disturbing dreams, irregular or rapid pulse, shortness of breath, mouth and tongue sores, edema or swelling, nervousness, emotional sensitivity, lack of energy, and high blood pressure.
How does one invite JOY into their lives?
Of course you can visit your acupuncturist, who then inserts fine needles along pathways in the body to balance your heart energy. Acupuncture provides nourishment and strength where there is a deficiency or weakness, and can promote the free flow of Qi or energy so that stress is alleviated.
Chinese herbs are another safe and effective method to address any imbalance along the heart meridian causing the above conditions including insomnia, anxiety, agitation, stress, “wired and tired” feelings and palpitations.
What can one do day to day to encourage that tranquil and peaceful state of being?
The color of the fire element is RED.
Place a red rose-scented candle on your table.
Fill a vase with bright pink Gerber Daisies for your bedroom.
Wear a magenta top with your favorite jeans.
Soak your worries away in a hot springs while watching the vibrant coral colors of the sunset over the mountains.
Sip a cup of hawthorne berry tea while reading a poem or two about love.
Place a piece of pink quartz under your pillow.
Meditate
Open Your Heart
Exhale
and place your intentions towards discovering JOY in your life.
