I have a chest cold, not too serious.  But every time I get sick, I wonder/ponder about the emotional aspect of sickness – how emotions can be stored in the body and how the body processes them.  Within this framework, sickness seems like a way to get rid of old emotions and move on to the new.  Granted, I believe in science and I know there are viral and bacterial causes of illness.  But the strength of the immune system is linked to stress, and stress is a mindset and a state of being highly influenced by emotions.

Chinese medicine also draws connections between the emotional and physical bodies.  I do not remember many details, but I do remember that different organs in the body help deal with different aspects and issues in life.  For example, if you have a problem with your lungs, you may be dealing with anxiety or grief.  Treating the lungs physically, with medicine or body work, as well as dealing with the causes of anxiety and/or grief in your life, would result in healing.

The tricky part is to avoid blaming yourself for doing things that make you sick.  It doesn’t help to feel guilty or angry at yourself for getting sick.  True, there may have been things you could have done to prevent it.  But the key lesson is to listen to your body and see how you can make changes in habits and lifestyle, both physical, and  emotional, in order to improve and be a healthier happier person.