COVID as a Global Trauma Trigger: Chronic Sympathetic Dominance is a Global Issue

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global trauma, pushing much of the population into chronic "fight-flight-freeze" responses. This reactivation floods the brainstem with signals of danger, an alarm state with heightened sympathetic activity that when prolonged becomes a way of life. Recognizing and treating chronic sympathetic dominance involves understanding the myriad subclinical patterns associated with chronic fight-flight-freeze” response.

The Cascade of Physiological Issues from Chronic 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.  

Chronic Sympathetic Dominance and Fascia: Vagal Tone is Visible!

Contributions from mental health and trauma professionals like Peter Levine, PhD, Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, and Svetlana Masgutova, PhD, illustrate the role of the nervous system and the biochemical processes involved in trauma. However, their profound insights have not yet translated into effective treatment solutions for many. Several factors contribute to this challenge: a persistent mind-body split in mental health, prohibitions against mental health providers physically interacting with patients, inadequate insurance coverage for counseling, and an over-reliance on medication. These issues highlight the complex landscape of mental health care, where pharmaceutical approaches often fail to provide comprehensive solutions.

Integrating TCM and Modern Anatomy: A Multidimensional Approach to Body Structure and Function

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the body is understood as a series of interconnected systems, each with unique pathways and functional layers that encompass physical, energetic, and physiological domains. Classical concepts like the six divisions, the three jiaos, and the Eight Extraordinary Vessels offer a structured approach to balancing qi flow and organ health. However, as we explore these classical frameworks with modern anatomical, neurological, and fascial perspectives, a richer understanding emerges—one that connects ancient insights with contemporary scientific models.

This exploration aims to bridge these TCM frameworks with the

The Three Jiaos: Anatomical Equivalent

 The three jiaos represent the body’s cavities and diaphragms: upper, middle, and lower. Each jiao serves a unique function and houses particular organ systems, corresponding to the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic diaphragms in modern anatomy. These diaphragms create divisions that maintain pressure, support organ function, and regulate movement between the body’s internal compartments. By relating the jiaos to physical diaphragms, we gain a direct anatomical correlate to these classical concepts, showing how they compartmentalize and support internal processes.

Integrating Chinese Medicine: The Neurology of the Ming Men Fire

The historical journey of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is as intricate as the texts that form its foundation. Revered classics like the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) and Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) began as separate scrolls, shaped by the beliefs, climate, and dietary practices of distinct Chinese regions. Each scroll reflects a unique cultural perspective, capturing early practitioners’ insights into restoring health, vitality, and the body's response to its environment. The Huangdi Neijing, traditionally linked to the Yellow Emperor, likely originated around the 2nd century BCE, with significant additions made during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE). Similarly, Zhang Zhongjing’s Shang Han Lun, written around 200 CE, focuses on treating diseases rooted in cold, shaped by environmental challenges of the Han Dynasty. By 1155 CE, scholars had organized these separate texts into a cohesive canon, preserving TCM’s foundational knowledge.

Integrative TCM: The Neurological Basis of Hara Diagnosis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), hara diagnosis, or abdominal palpation, is used to assess the health of the internal organs (zang-fu). The hara, located in the abdominal region, is considered the body’s physical and energetic center. By palpating this area, practitioners can identify patterns of firmness, sensitivity, or tension, which indicate imbalances in the organs and meridians.

Plexuses Related to the Autonomic Nervous System and Their TCM Correlates

 Plexuses Related to the Autonomic Nervous System:

Exploring the Neurological Components of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a profound system for understanding the body’s energy channels, and within this system, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels hold a unique position. These vessels, especially the Ren Mai, Du Mai, and Chong Mai (channels of first ancestry), are foundational to prenatal development. However, as we explore the channels of secondary ancestry—the Wei Mai and Qiao Mai—it becomes clear that they carry a neurological component previously unexplored in TCM. This is particularly relevant as we begin to understand their connections to postnatal development and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Kidneys in TCM: An Integrative Exploration of Fire-Water Dynamics

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the kidneys hold a foundational role as the wellspring of vitality, regulating processes essential to growth, development, and reproduction. Described as the "Root of Life," the kidneys are said to store the body’s vital essence, or jing (精), and provide the stability needed to support warmth, resilience, and the capacity for adaptation. This jing-essence (精) is viewed as the deepest reservoir of life potential, informing one’s longevity, physical stamina, and mental clarity.

Foot Reflexes and Core Tendon Guard

 Foot Reflexes and Core Tendon Guard