Our ancient & beautiful Chinese Medicine works to integrate the mind, the body and the spirit for true healing and well-being.

As Chinese Medicine Practitioners, we are always exploring ways to further assist our clients with tools to help process traumatic events and ways of healing. It could be recent trauma or from an earlier time.

See more on how we use Acupuncture for Anxiety & Emotional Wellbeing.

Healing Trauma

Trauma has become synonymous with modern living. A global health crisis at our heels, continued graphic images of international wars, heightened local political issues, and so much more with personal daily concerns - be it financial, social or health. We are all deeply affected by our environment, how could we not?
We are human and being human means, we are connected.

Dr Gabor Mate (world renowned addiction and trauma author, speaker and physician) reminds us of the meaning of trauma which comes from the Greek word “to wound”. He suggests that trauma is not the event that happens to us, rather the wound we sustain from the event. For example, a car accident where we could sustain whiplash and a fear of driving. Yes, the accident is difficult but it’s the trauma to the body and mind that we carry with us, long after the accident happened.

The good news is that wounds can heal.

Bessel Van der Kolk in his highly influential book “The Body Keeps the Score – Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma” has influenced an entire generation with a distinct approach to trauma. In his book, Van der Kolk clearly identifies how the body actually stores trauma.

A traumatised animal for example, their appetite, fur, posture, and behaviour are all compromised until they are in a safe environment. When safe and with time, the healing can be simply miraculous.

As humans, we are the same.

Both Dr Mate and Van der Kolk as leading experts on the subject agree that many modern diseases such as auto-immune disease, hormonal imbalance, chronic pain, or allergies to name a few have roots in trauma.

It is far beyond the scope of this article to discuss the intricacies of these diseases, rather to offer a general picture that there is always a way to heal. If there is a wound, healing is possible.

Healing modalities such as acupuncture and shiatsu work directly on the body and may generate a healing response. This could look like a stream of deep breaths, unexpected tears, or a feeling of muscle or tension release. These are all good signs that your system is releasing to heal.

It is important to be gentle with ourselves during these processes, knowing we are safe, and trust the body’s natural ability and desire to release. Taking time for ourselves to acknowledge daily stressors is invaluable to our personal and community healing.

May we be reminded that healing is possible.

See more on how we work with Emotional Wellbeing and blogs and tips.

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