It has been quite a full week. Tragedy in Manhattan, a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Pacific Ocean and on the West coast, and countless other ripples of confusion and trauma though out the globe. We are all navigating so many meaningful and often confusing shifts simultaneously. In my practice, this week, I noticed palpable and universal shifts in my patients' pulses. There were several common threads, the presence of constriction and Heart shock energy.
I have been reading the pulses for over thirty years and slowly built a practice that began in my mid-twenties. While studying privately with one of my very first teachers, she exposed me to this beautiful art form. I fell in love with the process. I became enamoured with the possibility of hearing messages from the bones, internal organs and blood vessels. Learning that the body could express what it might need a practitioner to know, felt magical. I now listen deeply with my fingertips. I am still learning how to refine my skills. I love to learn about how other practitioners practice and interpret pulses, especially in this current fast paced world.
When my teacher told me that many senior Chinese medicine practitioners could identify long term deep blockages and traumatic injuries from early childhood or birth and prenatal traumas, I immediately wanted to learn and master this skill. I am by no means at mastery level, I have many years to go, but I am always curious. Given the allostatic loads that many of us are carrying right now, and the turmoil of the external world, I noticed that the majority of the pulses in my patients were suspended, along with the breath. When I write 'suspended', I mean tight and contracted. The pulses often feel tender, fearful and sometimes carrying shock, especially in the Heart position. This 'Cun position' is on the left side upper burner position. When I read one pulse quality in particular, I realised that this had been the pattern, and that I should sit with this information to study this dynamic more closely.
I am revisiting my favourite Chinese medicine texts, while tracking the clinical experiences of this week. When we endure a shock, either physical, or emotional the Qi draws itself inwards and contracts. The purpose of doing this is so that the internal resources may be protected. Qi, Blood and Yin will be drawn deep into inwards by the Heart. The Heart, being the Emperor, goes into compensation mode and does its' best to regulate the body. If it is unable to do so, Yin and Yang may separate and lead to circulatory dysregulation. The Yin of the Blood may not be able to anchor itself and the Yang rises. When the circulatory role of the Heart is impeded, we can see issues develop in the tissues and bones. Healing may be slow, sleep may be distrupted, pain may become chronic and moods can shift and become irregular.
Yang Shen, otherwise known as resilience, vitality and longevity can be interrupted by untreated Heart shock. When trauma and shock go untreated in the body, Dampness, Qi stagnation, Heat, and Blood deficiency can ensue creating long term volatility and a sense of not belonging or depression. I am always looking for ways to support the gentle circulation of Qi through the multiple layers of the body, from the level of the bone to skin, after there has been a global shock to the system.
Whether we are aware of it or not, I believe that we are always absorbing Qi, distributing, and regulating Qi and Blood. Good quality food, proper rest, social engagement, appropriate self care, movement, and lymphatic massage are often helpful in bringing us back into more coherence and regulation.
Movement is one of the most important mitigators of held shock in the body. Resourcing, coupled with gentle and soft micro movements can activate harmonious dialogues of Yin and Yang and support the free flow of Qi.
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