The Sequel

by Kaleb Montgomery, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

For those that missed my article last week, It’s All My Fault it was about illness and injury teaching us how to lead happier healthier lives. Here are some examples to clarify my point.

One of my favourite examples comes from a patient of mine. She came to me because of eczema. Her skin was cracked, red, itchy and painful. A few background details are necessary to fully understand her story. By profession she is a flute player. Not all her gigs fulfilled her creatively, but she was making a decent living with her music. Coincidentally, she was at a crossroads in her career. The urge to concentrate on a more creative and artistic musical expression had overcome her. However, she was scared to make the change. She was reluctant to give up the security of her current situation. The change would leave her financial less secure. She would have to find a part-time job to make up for the lost income. Strangely the eczema manifested on her hands. She could not play the flute now. In fact, her body, through the eczema on her hands, made it impossible for her to play. Now she had the time to contemplate her situation. The eczema was telling her that she was not using her hands properly. They were red, sore, itchy, painful and not happy. Her hands forced her to listen to the “urge to be more creative” and change her career. She made the change and now leads a happier eczema-free life.

Another example comes from my own past. I was in my early twenties. My girl friend and I were having problems. On a trip with my girl friend I became ill, a sore throat. Coincidentally, something was upsetting me that I needed to talk to her about. That night I picked up my journal. Out poured everything that I had bottled up inside. As my pen flew across the page, my sore throat started to improve. After about 20 to 30 minutes of writing the pain and fever were gone. This experience began my inquiry into the ties between my emotions and my health.

Many personal and clinical experiences have reinforced and further expanded my understanding of the interconnectedness of our whole selves. Our mind, body, emotions and spirit are all linked. Each one is a part of us that can not be separated from the other.

In Chinese Medicine each organ system is associated with a particular emotion. For example, the digestive system is most affected by worry and over-thinking. The relationship is mutual. Worry will affect the digestive system adversely. As well, a poorly functioning digestive system will cause us to worry more. In Chinese Medicine cause and effect are not so important. It is the relationship that is crucial. Treating one will affect the other. This leads me back to my original article. By changing our mental and emotional landscape we can positively change our physical health. By acknowledging the connection between body, emotions and mind, we can be our own doctors. Awareness of the signs and symptoms our body gives us, is the key. We show ourselves the way. In my next article I will focus more specifically on emotions and how we can learn from them.

sore throat started to improve. After about 20 to 30 minutes of writing the pain and fever were gone. This experience began my inquiry into the ties between my emotions and my health.
Many personal and clinical experiences reinforce and further expand my understanding of the interconnectedness of our whole selves. Our mind, body, emotions and spirit are all linked. Each one is a part of us that can not be separated from the other.