Heal & Release Trauma with Chinese Medicine’s Ancient Wisdom
Welcome back to There Qi Goes! I’m Katherine Rohland, your host and licensed acupuncturist, and today, we’re diving deep into a topic that is profoundly impactful yet often overlooked: trauma. From the unique lens of Chinese medicine, we'll explore what trauma is, how it enters our bodies, where it resides, and most importantly, how we can begin to release it for better mental and physical health.
What is Trauma?
In Chinese medicine, trauma encompasses anything that prevents us from living fully in the present or moving forward in life. This can include past regrets, unresolved emotions, or significant events that continue to shape our current behaviors and feelings. Trauma isn't solely about major life events; it can also manifest from smaller experiences—what some refer to as “small t” traumas—such as childhood conflicts, feelings of neglect, or social rejections.
Gabby Bernstein captures this well when she distinguishes between “big T” traumas, like abuse or violence, and “small t” traumas that, while less severe, can leave lasting emotional scars. Understanding this spectrum helps us recognize that everyone experiences trauma in some form, and that’s completely normal.
How Trauma Enters the Body
Trauma can infiltrate our bodies on different energetic levels, according to Chinese medicine. We often categorize our energy, or qi, into three primary layers:
Wei Qi (Defensive Qi): This is our first line of defense, similar to our immune system, protecting us from external influences and managing our automatic responses.
Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi): This level involves our blood and nutrients, playing a vital role in nourishing our body and emotions.
Yuan Qi (Original Qi): The deepest level of energy, where cellular and DNA-level changes occur. This is where trauma often takes root, especially following significant emotional shocks or childhood experiences.
The Pathway of Trauma
When a significant trauma occurs—whether it’s a shocking event or a childhood experience—it can bypass our protective layers (wei qi and ying qi) and embed itself directly into our core (yuan qi). For instance, early childhood trauma or any overwhelming experience can settle at this fundamental level, affecting our health and emotional well-being.
Moreover, trauma can accumulate gradually through life. A challenging event, such as losing a job, may first affect our mood (wei qi), then evolve into deeper emotional issues (ying qi), and finally settle into the core, manifesting as chronic pain or illness (yuan qi) if left unaddressed.
Why Trauma is Stored in the Body
Our bodies instinctively protect us by storing trauma rather than allowing it to wreak immediate havoc on our internal systems. If we didn't have this mechanism, our health could be severely compromised. Emotions can act as pathogens, and rather than overwhelming our organs, our bodies contain them, waiting for the right moment to process and release them.
However, holding onto trauma can deplete vital resources—like blood, nutrients, and energy—leading to a host of health issues, including joint pain and more severe conditions over time.
How to Release Trauma
The good news is that there are effective methods to release stored trauma. Here are three steps you can begin at home:
Identify the Core Belief: Reflect on experiences that might be tied to your trauma. What beliefs do you hold about yourself as a result? Journaling can be a powerful tool here. Ask yourself questions like, “How do I feel about this situation?” and “What emotions are tied to those feelings?”
Connect with Your Body: After identifying your core belief, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and repeat the belief to yourself. Notice where in your body you feel this belief manifest. This connection can take practice, so be patient with yourself.
Release Through Breath: Once you pinpoint where you feel the trauma, take deep breaths into your lower belly, releasing any tension through your breath. You can vocalize this release, allowing your body to let go of the heaviness. Follow this with a positive affirmation that counteracts the negative belief, such as “I am worthy and enough as I am.”
Embracing Your Journey
As we explore trauma and healing in future episodes, remember that everyone has trauma, and it’s an essential part of our human experience. You should never feel shame for your past. The path to healing is about understanding, processing, and ultimately releasing these experiences.
If you have questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out. You are not alone in this journey.
Thank you for joining me today on There Qi Goes. I look forward to exploring more about the power of Chinese medicine and how it can help us heal. Until next time!
