Boost Self-love with Traditional Chinese Medicine
We can get so caught up in the hustle and grind of everyday life that we forget to pay attention to our own needs. When was the last time you paused to listen to your body? Dr. Carolyn Cook of Miami Acupuncture & Classical Herbs reminds you that taking care of yourself is equally as important as caring for others. As February, the month of love unfolds, let’s boost your self-love journey with the following TCM tips. But first, let’s define what self-love is and discuss the common misconceptions about self-love.
What is Self-love?
The American Psychological Association defines self-love as “having regard for our own well-being and contentment.” In the mainstream media, self-love is often depicted as taking baths and getting massages. However, loving yourself is a deeper process than indulging in pleasures. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a more profound sense of the definition of self-love, which is the practice of protecting the body, mind, and spirit. When we love ourselves we understand that our physical ailments may come from emotional problems.
Loving yourself is not selfish. There is a common misconception that focusing on yourself means you don’t care about others. Not only does this shame-based belief hinder people from listening to their own needs, but it also limits people from getting the right support when they are stressed or feeling down. Self-love is necessary for your overall health and relationships with others. When you take better care of yourself, your mood improves, your body feels great, and you feel happier living life.
Dr. Carolyn Cook promotes self-love at Miami Acupuncture & Classical Herbs because it is the foundation of a healthier mind, body, and spirit. Self-love allows us to create a meaningful life where we can practice self-care, pursue our interests and goals, and feel proud of who we are.
TCM Tips To Boost Self-Love
Practicing self-love has a ripple effect of benefits. For instance, we are more likely to rate ourselves positively with pleasing personality traits when we love ourselves. Meanwhile, TCM practices are inherently positive due to their non-invasive and natural way of healing us, allowing us to feel good about ourselves.
To begin your self-love journey, one of the easiest places to cultivate love for yourself is how you manage stress. How do you handle stressful situations? Are you able to regulate your emotions and do you know your signs of emotional distress?
Here are the following symptoms that you are too stressed out or feeling burnout:
- Feelings of anxiousness
- Feelings of helplessness
- Headaches
- Stomachaches/intestinal issues
- Poor sleep
- Fatigue
- An increasingly cynical outlook on life and work
- Decreased satisfaction
- Reduced performance in everyday tasks
- Withdrawal or isolation
- Procrastination
- Emotional outbursts
TCM can help in stress management by making sure your Qi or life force circulation is balanced. Simply staying active and engaging in physical activities such as yoga and tai chi can help reduce stress. Deep breathing and practicing meditation are acts of self-love as well. Moreover, you can try these TCM healing remedies to give yourself a well-deserved loving time:
- Acupuncture is often the first line of treatment TCM where needles are placed at specific points on different meridians. This cures the Qi stagnation that is responsible for our emotional blocks, treating mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
- Acupressure involves massaging acupoints which helps in alleviating depression and stress.
- Herbal tea is widely popular around the world because of its unique taste and health benefits. Dr. Cook uses herbal formulas that are personalized to suit your needs and treat your general well-being, not just the symptoms.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, you can treat yourself to a fun and loving date. Set your day with a positive mentality from when you wake up to the morning, have a shower, and eat your breakfast. You deserve the love you give to others, so why not be as compassionate to yourself as you would to a friend? Your day should be accustomed to your likes and interests. While looking at what people are doing online may inspire you, be careful not to spiral into comparison. Furthermore, Dr. Cook advises you to avoid eating too much sweets.
Our office is open should you want to book a relaxing acupuncture treatment or an appointment as an act of self-love this February! You may contact us at (305) 665-9711 or send us an email at cc@miamiherbs.com.