Anger. A feeling we all experience and that many of us struggle to move through. As we continue to navigate the fallout of 2020, are you witnessing more anger in yourself and others? I’m hearing similar stories from the folks in my life. “I’m finding myself to be more quick tempered.” “I am holding space for more anger in my friends these days.” “Why is everyone being so reactive?!” Margaret Weiser, Licensed Acupuncturist, sat down with me to talk about anger, where it originates in the body, what it can be teaching us about ourselves, and how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help us navigate this difficult emotion.

Q: You shared with me earlier that you have a special interest in emotions and TCM.  Can you tell me more about this and what makes it so interesting to you?

A: Emotions are what I’ve always wanted to treat. I have a genuine desire to make space for people to be heard and to move what needs to be moved. When someone is able to move through a difficult time, it’s beautiful how life changing it can be, how their entire world can shift.
I began with a BA in Psychology but quickly realized it wasn’t the approach I wanted to take. Massage school became a way of balancing the treatment of emotions with the body and then eventually I decided to take an even deeper dive through Acupuncture. It’s a special interest of mine, to assist others in moving through difficult times.

Q: Where does Anger originate in the body, according to TCM?

A: The main organs associated with anger are the liver, the gallbladder, and the heart.
The liver processes all substances and emotions. It’s a tough job to process all the time. When things build up or we’re in a constant state of stress, things tend to stagnate in the system. This creates heat and hot temperedness.
The gallbladder is the liver’s paired organ. When it is weakened, often through overconsumption of heavy and fatty foods, we see more anger, a lack of decisiveness, motivation, or direction and this can all lead us into feeling overwhelmed.
The heart’s association comes from it’s deep connection to all emotions. It has a direct pathway to the brain in TCM and in Western Medicine as well. People are more prone to coronary heart disease if they have chronic stress and anger in their life as these emotions increase heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol, epinephrine & norepinephrine.

Q: What is Anger a sign of?  Either in the body or in our lives?

A: Many things. It can show up because we aren’t physically moving our bodies enough. One of the best ways to clear anger is a brisk 20 min walk! Anger can also be present when we’re overworked, when too much is being asked of us and we can’t muster the energy to do it all. Also, a general “stuckness” in life, or feeling like we are lacking control.

Q: How can TCM help with processing and/or soothing anger?

A: For starters, acupuncture promotes circulation, both blood and Qi (pronounced “chee,” meaning “vital life source”). The points where we place acupuncture needles are essentially “nerve hot spots.” Placing needles in these specific points simultaneously removes energetic blockages (enabling the body to process what has been stuck) and stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system, which helps our mind and body relax. In addition, acupuncture reduces cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Lastly, receiving acupuncture is an action. It’s a step you are taking on the journey of healing. This helps to shift that feeling of stuckness and lack of control. The beautiful thing about acupuncture is that I don’t need to know your whole story to provide treatment. This is a safe space where you can trust that you will be held without having to re-traumatize yourself by hashing out everything that’s upsetting you.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with someone who is considering Acupuncture for emotion focused treatments?

A: If someone is interested in acupuncture treatments for emotional work, this should be done once a week for 4 weeks and then we would re-evaluate treatment moving forward. If it were a severe case, I may suggest twice per week. A typical “full course” of acupuncture treatments is 10-15 sessions total but this is something we can discuss once things get going and we have a better sense of the individual’s specific needs. It is also worth noting that sometimes a strong acupuncture session can leave one feeling raw, like after a good cry. It’s important to schedule these sessions on days and times that have a fairly open schedule afterward to allow oneself to gradually come back to the demands of life.

Give it a try!

We recognize that emotions will always be a part of life. There is no amount of acupuncture, massage, self care, etc that will shield us from the difficult feelings that come with being alive. What we can do is approach ourselves with compassion, ask for help when it becomes too much to bear alone, and cultivate a practice of self care. Acupuncture is just one of the many modalities that can become part of your self care practice.

If you’d like to give it a try, we’d like to help make it accessible to you. Now through the end of January 2022, receive $30 off your first 60 or 90 minute acupuncture session with Margaret. Use promo code 30ACU when booking online, or ask about the promo when you call to schedule over the phone. Limited to first time clients to Margaret and one use per client. We look forward to supporting your healing journey and tending to our community as we all continue to heal.

In Health,

Hayli Nemeth, Marketing Director