Five Element Fixes: Sadness

Feeling Overwhelmed by Sadness? 

Dear Readers: Welcome to a special feature of the Ask Vicki blog. Over the years, in addition to questions regarding relationships, as a naturopathic physician I’ve been asked about a variety of other issues. Questions regarding physical concerns, certainly, but also emotional, mental, and even spiritual issues, as well. And in truth, they are relationships questions because they address how we relate to ourselves and our environment.

The answers to these questions are usually short and sweet, but also rational and logical. And of course, they are grounded in the Five Elements model! The information seems more important now than ever before, so from time to time I will be sharing some of these Five Element Fixes with you here.

Question:

How do I manage the sadness I feel given all that’s going on in the world?

Answer:

Using small circles, gently massage the spot on the inside crease of your wrist directly up from your thumb. This is acupressure point Lung 9 and is an important point for moving energy in the Lung meridian. Massage this area for several minutes, then repeat on the other side. You can do this multiple times daily to help when you are feeling sad.

Why:

In Chinese medicine, sadness and grief are carried by the Lung meridian which sits in the Metal element of the Five Elements model. Stagnant or low Lung energy can make grief hard to shake. Rubbing Lung 9 gets Lung energy moving and helps to balance it. This makes it easier to move through difficult times and release sadness.

Stay safe and well,

Vicki