Chapter 8 of arguably the most influential text in Traditional Chinese medicine, the Huang Di Nei Jing: Ling Shu , is entitled Ben Shen which literally translates as Rooting in the Spirits. The title of this chapter has profound implications for the importance of spirit in the health and healthcare of human beings.

This chapter, as do many other chapters within the Huang Di Nei Jing, describes with great insight the effects that various emotional states and spiritual pitfalls have on human health. Everything from swelling anger, to worry and preoccupation, to oppression and sorrow, and even excessive joy are included in this discourse on harmfully excessive emotions. To understand how the ancient Chinese understood these principles, we can explore the balance and cohesion represented in the five-element system of thought.

It is very important to understand that most emotions are not considered to be harmful or unhealthy as long as they exist in a state of balance with all other emotions. For example, if we are harmed in a real way, it is natural to feel a sense of anger. The anger represents a surge of movement within our being to right a wrong, or to push through a situation that might continue to do us harm. In short, it is an impetus for action.

On the other hand, if this surge of movement is directed in an inappropriate way, it can do more harm than good. For example, causing someone else harm (e.g. “taking it out” on our loved ones) or turning our anger inward onto ourselves- frustration and depression- can both serve to perpetuate unhealthy states of body and mind rather than to resolve them.

If we let this one emotion of anger become too central in the way we live our lives, or allow it to linger for an excessive amount of time, it then becomes difficult to enjoy the rest of our full range of emotions. Joy, kindness, and meditative clarity fall by the wayside when we allow work stress or impolite drivers to crowd our conscious and emotional life.

So how do we maintain this balance within our often hectic and challenging lives. This question is a very personal one, and sharing ideas about it will have to wait for another article. For now we can clearly see that with our great capacity for emotional sensation and awareness, no single emotion in balance with the others can be considered as bad. However, if any one emotion or subset of emotions begins to overpower the others, and claims an excessive amount of our time and attention, problems and illness can result. This is one of the examples of why balance is such an important and ubiquitous concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Contemporary research has shown that stress, depression, pessimism and various other signs of emotional imbalance can be factors in the development of disease and have negative effects on the outcome of treatment. Conversely, optimism and laughter are both known to have positive effects on our health, and better our chances of rapid and complication-free recovery from illness.

So how does an acupuncturist go about supporting individuals at the level of spirit and emotions? This is where the discussion becomes a little more abstract and esoteric, as well as really fun!

In general, you treat spirit with spirit. We do this all of the time. How do we calm a child who is upset from a skinned knee? You kiss them. This is not merely touch receptors acting to dull the transmission of pain receptors at the level of the spinal cord. This is treating spirit with spirit. Likewise, putting our arm around a friend who is feeling down or who has experienced a loss. Even telling someone who is feeling sorry for themselves to get off their rump and do something with life is treating spirit with spirit.

It is the special ability of needles placed along the energy concentration lines of the body to reach the spirit in a powerful way. The spirit, or focused intention and compassion of the acupuncturist combines with, and guides this process to help relieve any emotional tension or distress. It is by one spirit reaching out to another that the healing takes place.

So if a particular emotional imbalance is presenting a challenge to a client, it is the job of an acupuncturist to have clear insight as to what energetic systems this challenge relates to. Then, based on study and experience, the acupuncturist picks acupuncture points on the body that are known to influence the indicated energetic systems. These points then open up a space within the individual to allow for the unraveling of unhealthy emotional patterns and the influx of nourishment. All of this is guided by the strength of spirit or intention placed through that needle by the acupuncturist.

The creation of a healthy relationship and a compassionate interaction between the acupuncturist and the client is the final ingredient to a successful interaction. For all of the above-mentioned processes to work deeply, it helps to have the full participation and trust of both sides, the client and the provider. This creates a sacred space where we can feel safe enough, and hopeful enough to allow our inner emotional patterns to unravel with the help of carefully placed acupuncture needles. The rest, of course, is how we then decide to lead our lives, whether we will play the same old parts again and renew our previous patterns, or whether we will choose to feel the fresh air on our faces, and walk towards a new adventure in life.

About the Author
Christopher Reilly, MSA. L.Ac. is an Acupuncturist and Herbalist at The Center for Integrative Health and Healing. Learn more about Christopher Reilly, MSA. L.Ac. by reading his bio.

Permission to reprint is granted with credit to author and link to online article.