Stress has a very negative effect on the body. It causes muscle pain, insomnia, premature aging, digestive disorders, hormonal issues, poor decision making skills, and foot in mouth disease.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a great alternative for dealing with daily stress. These are TCM inspired stress busters.
Muscle pain caused by stressed can include headaches, tight neck and shoulders, bad backs, and stomach cramps to name a few. Acupuncture is able to relieve muscle tension. It also improves circulation within the body, relieve emotional strain, improve sleep, improve digestion, and create a sense of well being.
Stress can be caused by imbalances in the body and the stress scan result in imbalances. Chinese Medicine practitioners combine herbs together to create an individual formula for each patient. This is because everybody is different and have individual needs. This formula works balance the body and create relaxation.
Xiao Yao Wan
One popular Chinese Medicine formula is Xiao Yao Wan. This formula is popularly used for a condition called ‘Liver Qi Stagnation’. The emotion of the Liver is anger, stress, and frustration. This formula helps the Liver Qi to flow and relax rather than steaming up like a boiler.
Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) Tea
Chrysanthemum tea is one of the most popular teas in China. People in China (& all around the world now!) drink Chrysanthemum tea on a regular basis for relaxation and maintaining a healthy Liver. In Chinese Medicine the sense organ of the Liver is the eyes. Check out our ‘Love your eyes‘ soup using Chrysanthemum.
Sour Jujube (Suan Zao Ren)
Suan Zao Ren is a Nervous System Depressant. This helps you to relax when the nervous system feels jangled from stress. There is a popular Chinese Medicine formula called Suan Zao Ren Tang (Sour Jujube Decoction). This is commonly given to people when they are stressed and cannot sleep.
Massage
Chinese Massage (Tui Na) works on the muscle and specifically on meridian pathways to unblock blocked energy. This allows the Qi to flow more freely within the meridians. Opening up the meridians channels allows the muscle to naturally relax. This style of massage is great at relieving bodyaches and pains.
Foot Massage (Reflexology)
In Chinese culture, the head is up in the clouds and the feet connect with the earth. To be more truly grounded and relaxed it’s important to treat your feet to a treat! Important organ meridians flow through the feet such as the Spleen, Liver, Kidney, and Bladder. The feet are also looked upon as it’s own microsystem. Reflecting the entire body. When you treat certain parts of the feet, you also treat other parts of the body.
Meditation
Meditation is popular in parks within China. Meditation is strongly promoted in China to reduce stress and promote health and wellbeing. There are different types of meditation. Some examples are QiGong, Tai Qi, Sitting Meditation, exercise therapy, and chinese medicine yoga.
Qi Gong or Tai Qi
Qi Gong and Tai Qi are gentle exercises that concentrate on moving the Qi around the body. Many people find this to be extremely relaxing and meditative. Tai Qi was originally designed to learn martial arts and can be a bit more tricky to get the precise movements. However, learning Tai Qi as a form of meditation and self defence can be very worthwhile. Alternatively, many people find Qi Gong more basic, easier to do and just as an effective form of meditation and exercise.
Yoga
There is yoga based on Chinese Medicine. This style of yoga works on opening up the meridians and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi. However most styles of yoga is relaxing and a good stress buster.
Walking Barefoot
Walking around barefoot helps to activate the meridian points in the feet. Try to walk on surfaces such as earth and sands to be more grounded and connected with the earth energies.
Gardening
Gardening results in contact with all 5 elements; wood (plants), fire (sunshine), earth (dirt), metal (spade, gardening equipment), and water (hose). The act of planting something into the ground and manual labour draws the hyperactive energy from out of the head and into the feet. This leaves you feeling more grounded, relaxed, and balanced.
Karaoke
This is considered an emotional release from constrained heart and liver energies.