Did you know crying too little can be quite harmful to the body? What a concept, right?

Our lives get in the way of expressing emotions. How many times have you stubbed your toe and wanted to drop to the floor wailing – yet it feels inappropriate to do so around a group of friends and family?

How many times have you been told a sad story in public and have had to hold back your tears?

These tears don’t melt away magically. They find a little nestling place in the body and sit there, twiddling their thumbs.

Daily, we seem to add to them. And yet very rarely do we cry it out.

So then, what happens to these mountains of emotions twiddling their thumbs?

TCM Doctor Peter Haxell explains:

“Emotional blockages or unresolved emotions of any kind can wreak havoc on the body. In TCM every emotion is associated with a particular organ or area of the body and can affect the healthy function of that organ. Crying is seen as a behavior that strongly releases built up emotions and enables the flow of energy in the body to be restored. Unresolved grief, or tears that aren’t shed affect the Lungs and can lead to patterns such as depression, tiredness and lethargy, shortness of breath and anxiety, dry or poor skin, and even fluid retention. When you are sad or grieving and don’t cry this interferes with the function of the Lungs- to take in the new and release the old- on both a physical and emotional level. The lungs are known for that reason as the masters of change.

The lungs are the upper source of water in the body and also regulate the skin and pores. The inability to cry and release grief or sadness can in time lead to dampness or phlegm: manifesting as coughs with phlegm, heaviness, and tiredness of the body, overthinking and worry. Dry skin, irritated skin or even fluid retention can also occur.

Emotions should be felt and released, if you are grieving or facing excessive grief and don’t know how to manage or express it, reach out to a qualified counselor or therapist”.

Yours in Addressing Emotions,
Your Tea

Image by @pakaapparel