Acupuncture, Grief, and Renewal

By Rachel Strass, DOM, LAc

Spirit Point Healing

. https://spiritpointhealing.com

More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles

Acupuncture, Grief, and Renewal

“My barn having burned to the ground, I can now see the moon.” -Chinese proverb

Benjamin Franklin once said, “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.” He wasn't far from the old proverb the only thing which doesn't change is that things always change. This is pointing to the ultimate change from alive to dead.

Everything that is alive will die. Every death, or perceived loss, causes grief. It is the case whether it be the death of a loved one, a relationship, or a dream. Furthermore, it cannot be avoided, though many of us try.

This is what the sages were talking about, and where acupuncture can be of great use.

The way acupuncture helps is by putting a person in balance with Nature. If Nature knows how to let go, so do we. It is an inborn ability and can only be forgotten through imbalance. This imbalance in letting go can be caused by a life-changing incident, illness, or poor lifestyle choices.

It can show up in many ways, asthma, constipation, skin issues, or behavioral issues like hoarding are just a few. When a person cannot grieve, it puts a halt to everything else. That pause won't end until the grief is addressed.

By nourishing the metal energy within us and removing blockages to the flow of the Qi, we can get “unstuck”, process our grief, and live our life more fully.

Once we embrace our past as a part of us instead of something in our way, we are more free to shape our destiny.

This is because letting go allows us to make room for something new. Just as Autumn leads eventually to Spring, letting go leads to new beginnings.