In these crazy days, where there seems to be a daily crisis, many of my patients just want to soothe their emotions. The most common question I’m hearing most nowadays is: “What can I do to relax and contain my stress and anxiety?” I explain to them the techniques I have been trained in that are very effective. Some of these I will discuss in detail.

However, I tell one thing that most of them give me a blank stare after telling them. What is this treatment option? It concerns the patient’s diet. Most people, especially in the US, rarely give any deep thought to how the type, quality and quantity of foods they eat affect their emotional statehood. We basically learn that food is there to enable us to live and do our basic daily functions.

Obviously, that is a purpose that food serves. However, these same people do not realize how foods can shape not only your emotional state but your thinking, as well. In TCM terms, the Meridians most associated with stress/anxiety are the Leg ShaoYang and the Arm JueYin. At this point, it is enough for you to appreciate that these are the Meridians that I look to treat first when I have a patient suffering from these disorders.

Most layman just assume that I would first tailor my point prescription and herbal formulas specific to treating these Meridians. Well, that definitely is a big part of the overall treatment protocol. However, the first thing I want to examine is what type of foods that person is currently eating and what is the person drinking. I have no doubt that most of you never thought how critical that person’s diet is to me.

It is so critical to me that I tell my patient that I can do all the Acupuncture and prescribe all the herbs that you want but without making the needed changes to his, he will not be able to better his stress/anxiety.