By Dr Cornelia BothaWe all desire contentment, peace and joy in our lives. When this state of balance disappears it causes distress and many of us desperately seek help to find equilibrium again.
Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other emotional disorders have been, and continue to be intensely researched in the medical community. Scientists interested in the human mind are constantly investigating and learning more about the chemicals in our brains (called neurotransmitters) that regulate brain function, as well as mood.
Most medical professionals consider emotional / mood disorders in relation to the brain only, and prescribe mind-altering drugs as the solution to these problems. These mind-altering drugs manipulate the delicate balance between the chemicals in one’s brain. People generally receive these medications after reporting or displaying emotional distress (e.g. anxiety, depression, rage etc). The problem is testing brain chemicals can be complex and expensive, so the vast majority of doctors do not test for this before prescribing tranquilizers, antidepressants, anti-anxiety or anti-psychotic drugs. Who’s to know then whether the individual actually has a neurotransmitter imbalance or not?
My experience treating patients with a wide range of emotional disturbances has taught me, and has confirmed time and again, that these drugs often create more problems than they solve. This may be due to the fact that manipulating the balance of one’s brain chemicals unnecessarily can induce a serious psychiatric disorder that didn’t exist before, which then leads to additional drugs being prescribed. Psychiatric drugs can be very dangerous, as evidenced by a number of antidepressants that can cause seizures and suicidal behaviour. Furthermore, improper use of and / or withdrawal from “sleeping tablets” and other psychiatric drugs can cause a withdrawal syndrome that can be misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder, panic disorder and a number of other mental conditions.
There is, however, a different approach to emotional distress.There are various complementary and alternative modalities that look at emotional distress more holistically. Whatever the chosen intervention, focusing on re-establishing balance is key. My experience with patients has evolved my treatment approach to take into consideration some conventional western medical principles, homeopathy, nutrition, as well assessing the production and smooth flow of life force within the person.
The Chinese have held the concept of qi or chi (pronounced “chee”) as central to their complex and sophisticated system of medicine for many thousands of years. Qi is the vital energy that flows throughout the body. The ancient Chinese described it as “life-force”.
Within the human body there are two basic sources of qi. Congenital qi is the qi that we are born with. It is limited and one's constitution is determined by the quality and amount of this form of qi. Congenital qi is often used up too rapidly in today's modern society by the abuse of stimulants (such as caffeine), recreational (and certain medical) drugs and insufficient rest.
Acquired qi is derived from the foods we eat and the air that we breathe. The quality of acquired qi depends on our lifestyle habits such as food quality, the balance of emotions, physical exercise and exposure to harmful influences (e.g. cigarette smoking).
This is the very simplified explanation of qi. There are many more different types of qi that have an affinity for different organs in the body and that have various functions. If imbalances, blockages or deficiencies of qi occur these result in disease of the whole person (body, mind, spirit). And thus, in Chinese medicine emotional problems are attributed to an imbalance or blockage in one or more of the internal organs and the energy pathways (meridians) that relate to them.
Even a very specific emotional disorder such as postnatal depression can be caused by a number of different imbalances, deficiency and/or blockages of qi or blood. A thorough consultation involving exhaustive questioning, as well as the examination of the patient’s tongue and pulse is required to ascertain the true disturbance in person as a whole. Furthermore, it must be established how the problem originated and where it now manifests. This takes into consideration, not only the adequate production and flow of qi (and blood) through various organs, but also the balance between yin and yang, and many other aspects as well.
Mentioning these complexities in diagnosis serves to highlight how the simple, conventional diagnosis of depression (for example) cannot receive one treatment approach such as an antidepressant drug when considered holistically. I could consult with 10 different patients with a diagnosis of depression and recognise 10 different syndromes in terms of Chinese medicines that may culminate in the prescription of 10 different herbal formulas and / or homeopathic remedies – each person being treated as an individual. Different nutritional advice and treatment may also be dispensed.
In addition to being aware of the evidence of patterns of various qi disturbances, I am also looking out for conventional medical conditions that cause emotional disorders. Various diseases can cause emotional problems, manifesting as anxiety, depression, rage, confusion etc. Thyroid disease, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Insulin Resistance, Seizures, Menopause and sleep disorders are just a few common examples. Exposure to various toxins can also cause emotional disturbances. An interesting example is the established link between lead toxicity and aggression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I test all patients that come in for emotional problems for heavy metal toxicity.
Nutritional deficiencies and excesses are commonly overlooked causes of mental and emotional imbalances. I have treated many patients that failed to respond to various drug treatments simply by correcting severe nutritional defects. Some nutritional defects are in fact genetic, which goes back to the idea of congenital qi.
Personal and professional experience has taught me that emotional disorders are often an expression of the distress that can occur in response to various challenges that form part of a person’s life journey. This concept should not be overlooked - for example major changes in one’s life and personal trauma. Whatever the case may be, we need resources to help us cope with the challenges we encounter in life. Some important resources, besides good diet (that helps us make and move qi), include:
| Exercise: | Should be moderate; heavy weight training can damage yang, especially in women |
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| Get your qi moving: | Tai chi, qi gong, yoga are useful to assist with this |
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| Breath-work: | In Chinese medical thinking the lungs are damaged by grief and sadness, and anything that harms the lungs cause sadness, e.g. smoking. Unresolved grief damages the lungs and will have a knock on effect on other organs. Other emotions effect different organs and contribute to other types of diseases, since they affect the production and flow of qi differently. |
Unfortunately in our modern society we want to push beyond the boundaries of balance – longer working hours, less sleep, fast food (with less nutritional value) etc. We use stimulants to keep us going and sedatives to make us sleep, which harm us in the long run. The above advice is difficult to put into practice, but it makes all the difference, particularly when combined with correctly chosen herbs and nutritional support!
Since this article was started with a mention of medical drug treatments that are prescribed for emotional problems, I’d like to end with that topic too. If you are currently on a medical drug regime for whatever diagnosis you have received please DO NOT abruptly stop this treatment. If you wish to discontinue your drug treatment it should be done under the guidance and supervision of a practitioner that is experienced in this and that will provide you with individualised natural treatment to reduce or prevent a withdrawal syndrome, as well as treatment for the underlying cause of your emotional disturbance.
The take-home message in my mind is to remember that life is a journey and along the way we’re faced with challenges. If you find you can’t cope, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a brain disorder. Sometimes we just need to help re-establish balance within the body, mind and spirit.
