TCM Fight/Fight and Sympathetic Dominance

Now that we have explored the basics of Yin and Yang balance as reflective of the Autonomic Nervous System's function, we are better positioned to understand the fight-flight mechanism within the TCM framework. In this context, the fight or flight response can be viewed as a condition that arises when there is a significant disruption in this delicate balance. Such disruptions overwhelm the ANS, tipping the scales away from harmony and leading to the profound physiological and psychological changes observed in chronic stress responses. This TCM perspective allows us to conceptualize trauma not just as an emotional or psychological event, but as a systemic physiological condition that challenges the body's innate capacities for regulation and balance. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the fight or flight response is viewed through the lens of Qi and Blood mobilization to prepare the body for immediate action. When an individual faces acute stress, Qi and Blood are directed towards large skeletal muscles below the trunk, the leg-yang channels, which are associated with activity and movement. This redirection supports rapid muscular response that, when unresolved, leads to patterns of spasticity and tension that are visibly manifested in the fascia. 

Over time, if these patterns remain unresolved, the persistent strain can lead to a solidification of energy in the Yang pathways, creating indurations within the fascia and affecting the secondary luo vessels. This diversion of normal Qi and Blood flow not only depletes the local cells of essential nutrients but also contributes to a state where spasticity becomes chronic, further spilling into the Yin secondary vessels. This process can result in what is known as 'phlegm misting the mind,' a condition where the clarity of mental processes is clouded. Additionally, the retained fight or flight reflexes hinder the normal function of the descending Vagus efferents, which signal the body to relax and disengage from stress responses. This disruption leads to a chronic state of readiness, characterized by muscle tightness, emotional reactivity and limited mobility, profoundly affecting the overall balance of the autonomic nervous system, including the limbic, enteric, and vestibular systems. The prolonged exposure to high stress levels can severely impact digestion and immune function, laying the groundwork for various autoimmune and allergic reactions. It's essential to recognize that trauma, in this context, refers to any experience that overwhelms the buffering capacity of the ANS, leading to prolonged dysfunction and a cascade of physiological and psychological challenges.