Wood and Earth: How to Breathe

Let’s talk digestion from a Chinese Medicine perspective. Earth is the element of the Stomach and the Spleen, and is responsible for digestion. Wood is the element of the Liver and the Gallbladder, and is responsible for the free flow of emotions. 

When Wood/Liver is out of balance - most often triggered by stress - it “overacts” on its neighbor Earth/Spleen, which causes lots of symptoms, including a sense of being stuck, increased frustration and anger, side pain, tight muscles, eye problems, and perhaps most commonly, digestive problems including bloating, indigestion, reflux, and more. 

Ever feel the need to take a deep breath and let out a long sigh after a stressful day?  

This is Wood trying to find some breathing room. 

To support breaking the pattern of Wood overacting on Earth, we can simply start with breathwork. Breathing properly is a free and easy way to reduce stress, which in turn eases digestive function.

How You Breathe Matters. So how do you regulate your breathing? 

First, we have to notice. Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your belly. Breathe in for the count of 5 and exhale for the count of 5. Breathe in and out through your nose, engaging the diaphragm and letting your tummy go fully!

Here are 3 techniques I love that all have the same intention. Practice can be done anywhere and anytime. Building up to 5 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day can do wonders for stress, anxiety, low back pain, and digestion.

Heart Breath

Inhale for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds. Continue this pattern for 5 minutes then get on with your day. Easy!

4-7-8

This is similar to Heart Breathing, but requires that the exhalation be twice as long as the inhalation. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, then exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat the cycle 4-8 times. When you exhale, it slows your heart.  

Pranayama (nostril breathing)

Begin with a complete exhalation, then push your right nostril closed with your finger and inhale through the left side of your nose. Switch to cover the left nostril at the peak of your inhalation and exhale through the right nostril. At the peak of the exhale, inhale through the right, close it, then exhale through the left. Close the cycle with an exhale out the left, where we started.

These practices are great when you feel stress levels rising, before eating, or as part of your morning routine. Creating time for breathwork before a meal can do wonders for digestion.

Happy Earth!
Angela Coon, L.Ac.