Stagnation
Stagnation; the state of not flowing or moving, lack of activity, growth or development
What is stagnation in the body?
Nothing good ever comes from stagnation- stagnant water, stagnant qi, stagnant life, stagnant belief systems. As the definition states, things are stuck, not moving or flowing or growing. No matter the location of the blockage, there is always a cause and when you know the cause, you can then find the cure.
Stagnation is a term often used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and it is one of the most common imbalances in the human body. It occurs when qi and blood fail to move properly and it can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms. Some of these are:
Muscular pain and spasms/cramps
Irritability or inappropriate anger
Abdominal pain, constipation or bloating
PMS, breast tenderness, painful menses
Depression or mood swings
There are many things you can do to get your qi and blood moving.
Take some long, slow deep, belly breaths- expanding your abdomen and relaxing your core as you inhale, pulling in your abdomen, and tightening your core as you exhale.
Move your body. It doesn’t have to be an hour-long personal training session. Go for a walk, do some stretching, have a dance party with your kids, chase your dog, rake the yard, or whatever feels fun or enjoyable.
Get some acupuncture. Your acupuncturist will determine if your stagnation is an excess or deficient condition and what meridians are being affected. They will then choose acupuncture points accordingly and possibly prescribe Chinese herbal formulas.
Mindfully eat- choose seasonally and weather-appropriate food, step away from your screen and stop working, chew slowly and thoroughly, and enjoy each bite.
When a stagnation is in another part of your life, you will still likely notice symptoms. For example, if your job is stagnant you might have writers block, you might feel bored, unchallenged or unable move up in your company. If your personal life is stagnant you may feel a pulling sensation toward a certain place you would like to move, you might discover fundamental issues in relationships. And if your belief systems are stagnant you may feel curious about new ideas, you may feel you have outgrown ideas you were raised with, you may start to feel very passionate about a new cause. Whatever it is that is blocked, pinpoint it and then…. take action! We are here on this earth for a short time. There is no need to sit with anything that is no longer serving its purpose. Make changes, move, flow and grow!
Garden Acupuncture has recently unblocked it’s own stagnations and moved office locations. Still in Park Slope, Brooklyn but with a fresh new start in 2022. We are here to help you with your qi stagnation and to unblock your meridians. To learn more visit us here.