"Since we have a human body, misfortune is inevitable."
– Dao Te Ching
Pain is blockage in the energy flow of life. That is the point of view of Energy Cultivation (Qi Gong).
Some pain is like a tidal wave – so overwhelming there's no way to work with it. But with most pain, there is some latitude. Usually pain waxes and wanes, and there are things we can learn to do in order to get the pain to wax less and wane more.
First of all, pain is a message. It is important to respect the message. This is not so easy, because usually the message is one of limitation. It says, "STOP! Pay attention to me. Figure out what is causing this, and change it!" But we are conditioned to ignore the message of pain. Our culture says, "Suck it up. Keep going. Take a pill. Go faster! Don't be a baby. You are being self-indulgent."
I am always amazed when people with knee problems take Ibuprofen and then go running on concrete. That's like seeing the Check Engine light come on and then covering it up with a post-it note. That's like driving down the road, smelling burning oil, and putting in nose plugs. How could their knee pain not worsen when they suppress the pain message like that?
There is also a fear and survival thread in this tapestry. Limitation creates a powerful, primal feeling of vulnerability. "What will happen if the pain is so bad I can't do my job? How will I survive?" When the herd flees the tiger, the ones with physical limitations are left behind.
The limitations of pain also create a socio-economic descent to a lower level of the human pecking order. This descent creates intense anxiety. Much of our human pecking order is based on how well we can function. At the bottom of that pecking order is displayed people who can't function much at all, sitting at stoplights with hand-scrawled signs, begging. Whatever else you might feel about that, isn't there also a stab of fear which could be summed up as, "There, but for the grace of the fact that I can function, go I."?
When the message of pain is ignored, it just gets louder and louder. The message escalates until there is nothing the person can do about the limitation. You push through the pain until finally, even though you are pushing harder than ever, the body just won't respond to your will.
The metabolic state of the body plays a very important role in the ebb and flow of pain. Inflammation increases pain. Toxins increase inflammation. Anyone who has ever had a terrible headache with a hangover can tell you that. So the more we cool out any state of chronic inflammation, the less likely we are to suffer from pain. This cooling out can be accomplished with diet, breathing, movement and the cultivation of a non-inflammatory state of mind.
This week, we'll talk about how to use Energy Cultivation (Qi Gong) in the context of pain. Some key points:
1. Allowing the full flood of consciousness into the pain area is an essential catalyst in healing. Pain is simply asking for our full attention. When we give it, the need for the body to broadcast the pain message eases. Yet often the impulse is to ignore pain as completely as possible. The Life Energy (Qi) follows awareness. So when we withdraw attention from an area of the body because it hurts, we are depriving that area of the Life Energy and perpetuating the pain.
Of course, I am not advocating that you walk around all day with your mind on the pain. But the benefit of spending some time each day in healing contemplation of the area is crystal clear to me.
Look at it from the point of view of what in medicine we call "splinting." Splinting is when we tighten an area of the body so it doesn't move. The muscle tension creates an immobilizing splint to the area. That way we don't move it inappropriately and create more injury. If one forgets and moves the area freely, there is a jolt of pain – a sharp reminder.
But there is a downside to splinting. Say there is neck pain because of inflammation in the joints of the spine there. That muscle tightness, especially when it is chronic, can cause the joints to grind down on each other, increasing the pain and injury. Once we put attention there and the area can relax, blood flow improves, the inflammatory chemicals of inflammation are cleared, and the pain can decrease.
2. Energy cultivation goes beyond the simply placing of awareness into the body. With attention, visualization and breath we can open blocked areas, let go of the pain template, restore healthy blood flow and correct body alignment.
3. "Motion is the lotion." Many with chronic pain simply immobilize that area of the body indefinitely. But the body needs to be told, "Hey, I need that area, and I need to be able to move it, so let's get healing."
It's a delicate balance between motion and stillness. One scientific study found that for acute back strains, three days of bedrest were great. Beyond that bedrest did more harm that good.
It is important that the motion be skillful. Attempting to jump back to full activity is only going to create more pain and injury. Here is another place where attention and consciousness is crucial. In full consciousness, we get the message very clearly of how much motion is enough. Then we can stop and let the body assimilate.
I was always amazed, when I worked in pain clinics with physical therapy departments, how they would put people to exercise the injured parts while they watched soap operas on a television high above them. If the mind does not pay attention to the motion, the person is receiving no feedback about whether or not the movement is healing or injurious.
4. Touch is healing. When someone is hurt and they receive the kindness of touch, the system immediately calms. We can emit, receive and move a tremendous amount of Life Energy through our hands. Furthermore, by touching we can explore the area and bring more consciousness into it.
Yet I am always amazed by how seldom people touch their pain areas. I think it must be part of trying to ignore the whole situation.
So this is a deep topic. As I said, some pain is so overwhelming it cannot be worked with. But most pain will respond. And with pain, any improvement is welcome. Anyone can learn these simple techniques, and it is my joy to share them in the Palace of Health!