Ask Dr. Tracy: Emotions and Qi

How Do Emotions Affect Our Energy (Qi)?

Dr. Tracy Kozak, Acupuncture Physician
@ Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center
Jacksonville, FL

Worsley Five Element Acupuncture sees the body, mind and spirit as inseparably linked, with one constantly influencing the other. Many of us are consumed by stress, anxiety and emotional disturbances, unaware of the effects they cause within the body. Emotions can create dynamic effects and cause many physical changes. Here are some examples:

Anger: Anger makes Qi rise. Anger can cause a feeling of heat in the face and pressure in the head, as if steam might come out of your ears. Headaches often arise due to anger.

Joy/Happiness: This emotion slows Qi down, like time is standing still when you are with a loved one. You feel as if you are in a state of serenity.

Grief: Grief and sadness dissolve Qi. It’s that empty feeling – like a giant empty hole in your chest – as if all is lost.

Worry: Worry knots Qi. The familiar saying, “My stomach is in knots,” is a perfect representation. It’s a tightness that feels like it’s twisting around. This sensation can also be experienced in the chest.

Shock/Fright: This scatters Qi. It is the fight or flight experience that may feel like an electric shock or tingling throughout your body as Qi scatters to your extremities.

Fear: Fear generally makes Qi descend. It is experienced as a sinking feeling in your body when you are afraid something bad will happen. Loss of urine can be a symptom of fear.

Next time you have an emotional response, pay attention to where you feel it within your body. You will begin to understand the effects it is having so you can take action to counteract the response, if necessary. Acupuncture treatment is an exceptional way to correct an imbalance in the flow of your Qi energy, which in turn will get your emotions and body back on the right track.