Emotional Health

As a holistic veterinarian I rely on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) to help guide my physical exam findings and to determine how acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition might best help an individual patient.  One of my favorite aspects of the TCVM approach is how emotion can directly influence the health of our animal compantions.  When emotions are overwhelming and left unchecked the health of a patient is compromised.

Excessive worry can take a toll on the stomach and spleen while overwhelming and prolonged grief can compromise the health of the lungs and large intestine.  Significant fear and anxiety can weaken the kidneys and bladder.  Anger and frustration can adversely effect the liver and gall bladder.  And emotions don't need to be "bad" to influence the health of a patient.  The heart and small intestines can become imbalanced and weakened when a patient experiences overpowering and persistent joy.

worry  = spleen and stomach

grief = lungs and large intestine

fear = kidneys and bladder

anger = liver and gall bladder

joy= heart and small intestines