Every February romantics all over the world flock to the local flower shops and jewelry stores in search of the perfect bouquet or piece of jewelry to express their undying love. Why? Nobody knows for certain, like many contemporary holidays, Valentine’s Day probably has pagan roots. The celebration of Lupercalia, celebrated at the ides of February, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus.
Faunus was the Roman god of agriculture. So
it can be derived that from a fertility festival, this was later
watered down by the Church and turned into a festival of love. By the 1800s it
had become common for friends and lovers to exchange gifts as tokens of
affection. Shortly after that, the holiday became commercialized, celebrated
with the retail consumption of heart-shaped candy and trinkets.
Despite its controversial roots, and mass
commercial appeal, in recent years Valentine’s day has become trending more
toward “self-love” and emotional
wellness - which is SUCH a powerful subject we simply MUST discuss. So, today
let’s talk about self-love, heart health, and how Traditional Chinese Medicine
can help.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) the
heart houses the Shen. The Shen is sometimes described as the spirit, but it
also includes the mind. During the winter months, when the hours of sunlight
are short, the weather is typically colder and very little is growing; many
people develop something known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. So
perhaps, celebrating Valentine’s Day in the middle of winter is a way to keep
our hearts healthy and our Shen lively, similar to the timing and benefits of
the Chinese New Year celebrations. The feeling of love and community can
permeate every cell of the body and mind. This feeling of emotional relief can
bring healing to those who are experiencing SAD (or similar seasonal
conditions) while helping to nourish the heart.
The heart is the center of perception and
associated with feelings of joy.
Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to experience joy, and it doesn’t
have to be from a romantic partner.
Sharing special moments with those who are closest to us, friends,
family, etc., helps to keep the heart full of joy. Even acts of selfishness can
have profound effects on the mind, body, and soul. It is said that taking time
to reflect while spending time alone can also help keep a healthy heart. If you
are someone who enjoys being outside, now is a GREAT time to get out and
appreciate the natural beauty around you.
Heart health is extremely important. Recent
studies show general practitioners are prescribing exercise, nutrition, and
stress reduction therapies as a primary means to prevent heart disease. In
order to lower the prevalence of heart disease on a national scale, we can
expect to see more regular implementation of these natural (and effective)
holistic approaches to wellness.
Acupuncture, the main modality of TCM has been
shown to help lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate and calm the mind.
There are specific acupuncture points and point prescriptions that can help the
mind and the heart, which can strengthen the mind-body connection.
This year, when Valentine’s Day rolls around,
don’t fret over trying to find the perfect card or gift. Instead, try focusing attention on the people,
places, and things that bring joy and love to your life.
TRY THIS ACUPRESSURE ROUTINE FOR HEART HEALTH
CV 17:
Dan Zhong This is a great self-help point for many
reasons. Conception Vessel 17 is easy to find, and matches the location for the
heart chakra, at the center of the sternum. With this point, you will find
potent stress and anxiety relief, as well as an opening of the chest and
calming of heart palpitations.
HT 7:
Shen Men This point is located bilaterally on the
underside of the wrist, at the outermost end of the wrist crease. H7 can help
with heart arrhythmias, panic attacks, hypertension, insomnia, and much more.
This point reduces excesses that disturb the spirit and the balance of
yin/yang. This point is so powerful that TCM practitioners often praise Shen
Men as being the most calming and relaxing point in the body, while
conveniently being highly accessible.
PC 6:
Nei Guan You can find this point on the inside of the
wrist, 2 finger-widths up from the wrist crease, in between the two prominent
tendons of the inner arm. Modern studies (linked
here) have extensively evaluated the benefits of this point. It is
becoming increasingly clear that acupuncture, specifically PC6, can effectively
treat both the symptoms and underlying causes of cardiovascular disorders.
KD 1: Yong Quan This is a great
point used for grounding. Kidney 1 is located on the bottom of the foot, at the
junction of the anterior one third and posterior two-thirds of the line
connecting the base of the second and third toes and the heel. Kidney 1 can
sedate and calm the mind, while also regulating blood flow to the upper part of
the body, aka the brain.
Contact me today for more information on the
specific acupuncture (or acupressure) points for heart health.
Give me a call for more information on how
acupuncture and TCM can help your heart today.
Dr. Bishara Wilson, DACM
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