Relationship between emotions and the organs

We all experience occasional mood swings, but when emotional turbulence becomes a constant presence in our lives, it’s essential to delve deeper.

Your emotions may seem like they are in constant flux. Each passing month, you might find yourself experiencing various feelings. One month, you could be grappling with fear or sadness, while another might see you wrestling with anger or even indifference to your surroundings. Have you ever wondered why this happens? Certainly, external factors in your daily life can influence the prominence of certain emotions, but there is a more profound explanation for the recurring dominance of specific emotions.

Eastern medicine has long recognised the relationship between our emotions and the health of our organs. Understanding this relationship can offer insights into our overall well-being. Even though I am hesitant to label emotions as either “good” ‘bad” “positive” “negative”, all ranges of our emotions can be felt and affect each organ differently

In the following sections, we will explore each organ’s relationship with expressed emotions and the potential symptoms you may encounter.

Heart

Positive emotions: Love, Joy, and Happiness

Negative emotions: Hate, Impatience

Excitement or mania is primarily associated with the heart. When someone experiences excessive highs, it can strain their nervous system. Symptoms may include palpitations, insomnia, fuzzy thinking, or a propensity for risky behaviour. Mania is more common than one might think, often overshadowed by the stereotypical association of emotional struggles with sadness. On the surface, a manic individual may appear exceedingly happy and excitable, with a racing mind or a tendency to talk excessively. Achieving balance is crucial; alongside the highs, it’s important to experience moments of calmness to counterbalance and relax the heart.

Liver:

Recommend: Rose, Pearl, Cacao, Polygala, Poria, Holybasil

Positive emotions: Kindness and Generosity

Negative emotions: Anger, Frustration, Jealousy, Envy

The liver is the organ responsible for anger. Anger can manifest in various forms, including resentment, frustration, and outright rage. Associated symptoms might include blurred vision, dizziness, headaches concentrated at the top of the head, high blood pressure, or pain in the ribs. Balancing anger involves acknowledging and understanding it, which may lead to a shift toward sadness as a more constructive emotion.

Recommended: Schisandra, Reishi, Matcha, Dandelion, Milk thistle, Dokudami

Kidneys:

Positive emotions: Gentleness, Calmness and Silence

Negative emotions: Fear

Fear is closely linked with the kidneys and adrenal glands. It depletes your energy and has a downward, cooling effect. Weak adrenals can disrupt metabolic processes and digestion and may lead to hearing issues. If fear dominates your life, you’re likely dealing with these issues. Transforming fear into a more rational expression of sadness can signify a shift in your body’s response, with the potential for a move toward neutrality.

Recommended: He shou wu, Rehmannia, ashwagandha

Lungs:

Positive emotions: Courage, Righteousness

Negative emotions: Sadness, Depression

Grief or sadness corresponds with the lungs. Prolonged sadness weakens the nervous system, depletes energy, and leads to symptoms such as excessive crying, chest tightness, shortness of breath, asthma, frequent colds, and skin issues like psoriasis and eczema. In Chinese and Kampo medicine, the lungs are believed to control the skin’s pores, emphasizing the importance of nurturing and protecting the body’s protective layer.

Recommended: Cordyceps Militaris, Cordyceps Sinensis, Eleuthero

Spleen

Positive emotions: Fairness, Openness and Trust

Negative emotions: Worry, Anxiety, Mistrust

Worry is associated with the spleen. Overburdened spleen energy can lead to fatigue, memory issues, poor appetite, bloating, weight loss, paleness, and diminished hair, nail, and skin health. Balanced eating is essential when the spleen is affected, as nourishing the body can alleviate worry.

Recommended: Digestive Support, White atractylodes, Poria

When you understand the connection between organs and emotions, you gain the ability to address health concerns holistically. This means that you’re not just treating the physical symptoms but also integrating healing on an energetic level, promoting a more comprehensive approach to well-being.

It is also a practice to feel our feelings without judgment.
These are three tools to become more attuned to the sensations within our body:

1. Direct your energy with purpose: Concentrate your focus deliberately. As an example, draw all your awareness to the space behind your eyes. Can you perceive the sensation there?
2. Grounding: Establish an energetic connection with the Earth. Feel the support and connection to the physical world by walking barefoot on the ground. Pay attention to this tangible link.
3. Survey your entire body with mindfulness: Take the time to systematically scan each part of your body with your attention. Explore how your chest feels, how your hand feels, and whether any emotions surface as you focus on these different areas.