Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is comprised of 10 branches. In the West, Acupuncture and herbal medicine are most popular, but Chinese medicine also includes cupping, gua sha (scraping), jie gu (bone setting), tui na (massage), moxibustion, Qi Gong/Tai Chi and meditation.
TCM and Acupuncture hold its roots in Daoism- the traditional philosophy based around concepts such as Wu-Wei (non-action), self-cultivation and living in harmony with nature and natural cycles.
Today I will be talking about what to do with energy. Commonly when we have energy, we will want to use it. This is natural and normal as humans- the desire to succeed, achieve and evolve.
However, when we look at ancient wisdom- especially that of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Daoism we see a different approach. If we are trying to cultivate our energy, we learn to allow that energy to build and to only utilise the excess.
Practically what does this look like?
First, a story…
When I was younger I lived with a long-term illness. The fatigue and low energy, poor sleep, pain, brain fog and stress were debilitating. When I pushed myself (which at times was literally walking for a few minutes) I would ‘crash’ and be essentially housebound, sometimes bed-ridden, for a few days to a week, and then the cycle would repeat.
I learned this concept of conserving energy and began to apply it to my daily life. When I was feeling very fatigued, I would allow my body to rest, eat healthy food and restore energy. Then when I felt some energy come in, rather than utilising it in action. I would simply do nothing and continue to rest. Then I found I had a little more in reserve. Then with that extra-in-the-tank I would do what I needed to. It could be studying for an hour, washing the dishes or talking to a friend. Over days, weeks and months, this gave me a more sustainable way to manage my energy.
This ties into concepts of Yin and Yang. By building our Yin (through non-action and rest), we can achieve and succeed, allowing our Yang (action and doing) to manifest.
In terms of Daoist cultivation- this is the concept of building our Qi (energy) in our Lower Dan Tien to allow the energy to overflow and the Yi (Intention) of our Shen (Spirit) to manifest.
This can be very challenging, especially if, like many people (including myself) you just want to be going at 100% speed all of the time. It takes patience, and it is not a substitute for medical care: if you are living with ongoing fatigue, start with your GP, who can check for causes that need medical treatment.
All in all, this is the key lesson:
When you have energy- build it, conserve it and then use only the abundance. That way you can keep a full tank and continue to grow your energy capacity, health and wellbeing.
Ahil Naturopath/Acupuncture is a clinic located near Redfern, Alexandria and Waterloo. We also service areas across Sydney including Botany, Camperdown, Darlinghurst, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Mascot, Newtown, Rosebery, Surry Hills and Zetland.
We offer Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Cupping, Gua Sha (Scraping) and Moxibustion services in South-East, Eastern and Inner City of Sydney.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual advice from a qualified health practitioner. If you have a health concern, please see your GP or book a consultation.