There’s an undeniable relationship between emotions and eating habits, which we can observe in the reaching for comfort foods during stressful times or perhaps the loss of appetite when grieving. It has become quite common and even normalized to cope with emotional stress by engaging in emotional eating, but TCM helps us dig a little deeper by illuminating the connections between our organ systems, emotional imbalances, and the holistic nature of health and healing. As we enter holiday season with a wide variety of emotions running high (or low), it’s a good time to lean on this wisdom to understand what our cravings and eating habits can illuminate about our inner workings so that we can support ourselves back into balance.
Although the interactions between emotional states and eating habits can be highly individualized, there are both physiological and psychospiritual forces at play. In TCM, emotions are closely linked to the function of respective organ systems. Balanced emotions support physical vitality, as emotions are considered a form of Qi (life force energy)—the free flow of which is crucial to vibrant health. However, extreme or unprocessed emotions can contribute to Qi stagnation, leading to symptoms that include patterns of emotional eating. This relationship is symbiotic, as the resulting poor digestion from emotional eating can also further trigger a stress response, while compromised organ function can contribute to specific emotional imbalances.
In TCM, there are corresponding organ systems for each of our primary emotions, and identifying the patterns at play can help us understand the underlying issues in instances of emotional eating.
- Worry and Overthinking: Spleen
- Joy (Excessive or Deficient): Heart
- Anger and Frustration: Liver
- Fear and Insecurity: Kidneys
- Sadness and Grief: Lungs
The Spleen: The Digestive Center
The Spleen is central to digestive health in TCM, responsible for transforming food into Qi and Blood. Emotional eating often stems from an imbalance in the Spleen due to worry, overthinking, or prolonged mental strain. Signs of Spleen imbalance include:
- Cravings for sweet, starchy, or comfort foods
- Bloating, fatigue, or a heavy sensation after eating
- Emotional tendencies toward worry or overthinking
We can support the Spleen and its associated symptoms of disharmony by:
- Eating warm, cooked meals to strengthen digestion
- Avoiding excessive sugar, raw, or cold foods that weaken the Spleen
- Incorporating herbs that support the Spleen, like Astragalus, Turkey Tail, Eleuthero, Chaga, Pine Pollen, and Lion’s Mane
The Liver: The Emotional Regulator
In TCM, the Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (and Blood) throughout the body. As our most important elimination pathway, it also plays a coordinated role in processing our emotions, once again highlighting the connection between the physical and psychospiritual. Emotional stress, anger, and frustration can cause Liver Qi Stagnation, signs of which include:
- Emotional outbursts or irritability
- Cravings for rich or greasy foods
- Tension headaches or vertigo
- PMS and painful menstrual cramps
To tonify the Liver and promote overall emotional regulation, we can:
- Incorporate bitter greens (e.g., dandelion, arugula) to help move stagnant Liver Qi
- Minimize the consumption of alcohol and fried foods that burden the Liver, and eating sour foods (like citrus) that help to relieve Dampness
- Stimulate acupressure point Bladder 47, called Gate of the Ethereal Soul
- Turn to herbs like Schizandra, Chaga, Reishi, Rose, Cordyceps, Deer Antler Velvet, Eucommia, He Shou Wu, Pearl, and Pine Pollen
The Heart: The Emotional Center
The Heart governs the psyche/spirit (Shen) and overall emotional health. Emotional eating connected to underlying issues of the Heart is often a reflection of deficient joy or an overburdened Heart center. In such cases, people may turn to eating to fill a void or feel comforted. Imbalances of the Heart can present as:
- Restlessness, insomnia, depression, or loneliness
- Heart palpitations or anxiety
- Cravings for sugar or highly processed foods that provide instant gratification
To support balance of the Heart for the mind-body-spirit levels, we can:
- Limit overstimulating substances like caffeine
- Incorporate Shen tonics like Reishi and Reishi Spore, Pearl, Schizandra, Eleuthero, Rose, and our Shen blend
- Eat red foods like jujube dates and goji berries, which not only support the Blood and Heart physically, but nurture a sense of emotional warmth and comfort
The Kidneys: The Root of Fear
The Kidneys store our Jing (essence) and are considered the root of life, holding the spirit of our willpower. However, the pathological inversion thereof is linked to excess fear and insecurity. Emotional eating connected to compromised Kidney function may be indicated when feelings of fear, instability, or deep fatigue overwhelm someone. Signs of Kidney disharmony include:
- Cravings for salty foods
- Chronic exhaustion, low motivation, or frequent activation of the fight, flight, and freeze response
- Feelings of insecurity and night sweats
We can nourish the Kidneys and bring our willpower into balance with our fear response by:
- Eating foods like seaweed, bone broth, root vegetables, and black sesame
- Optimizing our mineral intake, recognizing the cue from salt cravings. Pearl and Pine Pollen are great food sources of electrolytes!
- Including Jing and Kidney tonics, like Deer Antler Velvet, Eucommia, Chaga, Cordyceps, Eleuthero, Reishi Spore, and He Shou Wu
The Lungs: The Seat of Sadness and Grief
In a way, the Lungs govern the merging of the external and the internal via the breath, distilling Qi from the air and using it to help create our defensive shield. Indeed, we can feel defenseless when overcome with the Lungs’ corresponding emotions of sadness and grief. Issues in this organ system can lead to dysregulated eating habits, including loss of appetite or, conversely, overindulgence in comfort food. More signs of Lung disharmony include:
- Shortness of breath, asthma, cough, or dryness
- Frequent cold and flu, allergies, and/or skin issues
- Excessive weeping or disconnection, inability to cry despite sadness
To bring balanced support to the Lungs, we can:
- Eat truly comforting, soft, and nutrient-dense foods like soup, stew, and porridge
- Practice any form of meditation that focuses on the breath
- Incorporate tonic herbs like Tremella, Astragalus, Rhodiola, and our Beauty blend
- Snack on pears and apples to nourish the Lungs and balance Yin
Through the TCM lens, emotional eating is a symptom of deeper imbalances within the body’s organ systems and emotional landscape. By understanding the multifaceted roles of the Spleen, Kidneys, Liver, Heart, and Lungs in emotional health, we can take intentional steps to restore balance and cultivate supportive eating habits. Hopefully this awareness is supportive during times of heightened emotions, which the holiday season is for many. Wishing you deep nourishment that promotes balance on all levels, this season and far beyond!
