Tension and Trauma in the Body: A Chinese Medicine View
Learn how acupuncture and Chinese medicine support healing from trauma stored in the body. Discover natural relief through trauma-informed care in Brooklyn at Open Care Community.
Introduction
Have you ever gotten the sense that your body holds stress for months following an incident that has already passed? It can manifest as tension in the shoulder, a tight jaw, or a feeling of choking in the chest. These are somatic sensations, not a psychiatric symptom, typically symptoms of unresolved tension or trauma trapped in the body.
At Open Care Community, a Brooklyn-based trauma-informed acupuncture clinic, we understand that true healing is more than symptom reduction. It's about getting to the root of the issue and rebalancing. In this article, we will discuss how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches trauma, how it presents physically, and how therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and bodywork can foster long-term recovery.
👉Searching for trauma-sensitive acupuncture in Brooklyn? Book now at Open Care Community
The Body and the Science of Trauma
Current neuroscience recognizes what Chinese medicine has known for ages- that trauma isn't just a psychological phenomenon, it's heavily embodied. When the nervous system senses danger, flight, fight, or freeze is the response. For most, survival states persist long after the danger has passed. Trauma's chronic stress can be present as muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, or chronic fatigue.
Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, describes how the body remembers trauma. Western medicine is finally on par with what Chinese medicine understood centuries before: mind and body are not distinct.
📚Source: Psychology Today - The Body Keeps the Score
What Does Chinese Medicine Know About Trauma?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, trauma is seen as a disruption in the unimpeded flow of qi, or vital energy, and blood. Emotions are not fleeting feelings; emotions take up space in the body. As one example:
Liver: Linked to anger and frustration. If Liver qi becomes stagnant, it can cause tension, headaches, and irritability.
Heart: Spiritually associated with joy and regulation. Heart imbalances due to trauma can be expressed as anxiety, restlessness, or insomnia.
Kidneys: Regulate fear and resilience. Shock or prolonged fear depletes Kidney energy, resulting in exhaustion, panic, or ungroundedness.
Chinese medicine emphasizes the profound interconnectedness of emotions and bodily well-being, requiring that trauma be addressed in an overall way in order to restore equilibrium. This integrated process is a principle for how Chinese medicine addresses trauma in the body, providing a mechanism for body and mind to heal.
📚Source: Pacific College - Acupuncture & Trauma
The Body’s Expression of Trauma as Described in Chinese Medicine
Typical physical presentations of trauma include:
Muscle tension: Due to blockages of qi and blood
Digestive complaints: Usually due to Spleen qi deficiency from anxiety or excessive thinking
Sleep disturbance: An indicator of Heart and Kidney disharmony
Fatigue and burnout: Associated with Kidney qi depletion
Pain syndromes: Particularly in shoulders, back, and jaw—regions in which trauma is wedged
These signs go beyond mere discomfort; they represent your body’s way of signaling unresolved emotional energy that requires attention and care.
Learn how acupuncture and Chinese medicine support healing from trauma stored in the body. Discover natural relief through trauma-informed care in Brooklyn at Open Care Community.
👉Schedule an acupuncture session designed to care for your nervous system and ease any tension accumulated. Reserve now.
Chinese Medicine and Recovery from Trauma
Acupuncture restores the nervous system, removes the body from survival mode, and harmonizes the flow of qi. Herbal medicine provides personalized mixes, which calm the mind, induce restful sleep, and restore vitality.
Bodywork therapies:
Cupping: Releases tension in muscles and knots
Gua Sha: Facilitates lymphatic drainage and inflammation
Tui Na massage: Unblocks obstructed meridians and calms the body
At Open Care Community, treatment sessions are trauma-informed, gentle, and consent-based. Trauma acupuncture in Brooklyn is used more and more by individuals with PTSD symptoms, insomnia, or emotional burnout.
Healing in the Real World – Patient Experiences at Open Care Community
Healing at Open Care Community is not hypothetical, it’s happening every day. Clients report feeling noticeably lighter, less tense, and more at ease within just a few sessions.
Jamie described it as “her favorite community acupuncture in the city,” praising the open, clean, calm space and “kind and collaborative” staff who never made her feel rushed. She emphasized how “treatments are thorough, very personalized, and effective.”
Lee raved that the care was “stellar” and emphasized the clinic’s access-minded sliding-scale approach. She said she will “absolutely return.”
Raymond shared that after a session with Alice, he “felt so relaxed” and his neck pain was relieved.
Rena had meaningful relief from tension headaches and menstrual cramps, and encouraged others to book with Kayla for a weekly reset.
At Open Care, patients receive communitystyle acupuncture in a spacious, ventilated room, coupled with optional therapies like cupping, gua sha, tui na, or herbal support when needed. Treatments are tailored and delivered with care, never rushed, in a judgment‑free and accessible environment.
👉 Meet our experienced, compassionate team at Open Care Community.
Self-Care Strategies from a Chinese Medicine Perspective
Although professional care is extremely useful, there are gentle ways in which you may love your body between appointments, especially when you're healing from trauma or chronic stress.Traditional Chinese Medicine supports practices designed to stimulate blocked qi and calm the nervous system, all of which should be done gently.
Some of the following simple alternatives you can attempt at home are:
Gentle movement: Tai chi, walking, or stretching can shift energy without pushing your limits. Gentle movements help facilitate the smooth flow of your qi. Even 10 minutes a day can alter your inner state.
Herbal teas: Anti-irritant herbs such as chamomile, rose, or mimosa flower may calm irritability or tension. You can also seek the advice of a qualified herbalist at Open Care Community to find the correct herbal prescription for you.
Acupressure:
PC6 (Nei Guan): Three fingers down from the wrist crease. Gentle pressure here can calm anxiety and settle digestion.
LV3 (Tai Chong): Between the big toe and the second toe. Often used to allow for the release of tension and mood modulation.
They can go a long way in re-establishing flow, especially if accompanied by professional treatments.
Do you want to know what your body needs right now? Book a one-on-one session with one of our licensed acupuncturists or herbalists.
The Need for Community Healing
Healing does not have to be an isolated experience. Chinese medicine even recognizes the key role that relationships and community have to play in returning to health. At Open Care Community, we offer community acupuncture, as we believe healing in community can be deeply transformational and powerful and deeply nurturing.
As we heal together, we feel something referred to as co-regulation—our nervous systems start to align with others in a safe and caring setting. This is particularly helpful for patients with trauma, stress, or emotional exhaustion.
Community acupuncture at Open Care is:
Affordable fees of $45-$90 per session are offered, with no income verification.
Respectful and unobtrusive, each patient is treated separately in a quiet, communal room.
Empowering: You're not only supported by a practitioner—but by a healing space community.
"Being present to heal, however fleeting the experience, is an act of deep self-love, we feel."
👉Come with us on a healing journey—one breath at a time. Learn about our community model and book your visit in the downtown Brooklyn core.
One Step at a Time Towards Restoring Flow
Trauma and ongoing stress are not just in the head; they are in the body as well. But the same body that holds this hurt is also able to let it go.
With Traditional Chinese Medicine, we know healing is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It's cyclical, layered, and personal. However your symptoms present—whether it's physical pain, emotional duress, or simply plain fatigue—treatments like acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, and gua sha provide a subtle restoration to equilibrium.
Here at Open Care Community, we meet you where you are. With trauma-informed care, affordable fees, and a judgment-free space, you're welcome to start healing on your own terms.
“You don't need to know everything; you just need to do the next thing”.
👉No matter whether you're managing stress, healing from trauma, or looking for holistic healing, call Open Care Community or come see us at our Brooklyn clinic to start your journey to healing.
FAQs
1. What is trauma in Chinese Medicine?
In TCM, trauma is viewed as a disruption to the body's vital energy (Qi) and spirit (Shen), often stemming from physical injury, emotional shock, or prolonged stress. It can lead to Qi stagnation, Blood stasis, or Heart Shen disturbances, manifesting as anxiety, insomnia, or chronic pain. TCM treats this holistically with acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle adjustments to restore balance and flow, rather than just addressing symptoms.
2. What organ holds resentment in TCM?
The Liver is the primary organ associated with resentment in TCM, as it's linked to the emotion of anger and its variations like frustration or irritability. Unresolved resentment can cause Liver Qi stagnation, leading to physical tension such as headaches, muscle tightness, or digestive issues. Balancing the Liver through herbs like Xiao Yao Wan or acupuncture helps release this "held" emotion.
3. What is Chinese Medicine for muscle tension?
TCM addresses muscle tension as a result of Qi or Blood stagnation, often from stress, overwork, or emotional imbalances like Liver-related anger. Treatments include herbal formulas such as Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang to invigorate Blood and relax muscles, acupuncture to promote Qi flow, and Tui Na massage. These aim to resolve underlying causes rather than temporary relief.
4. Where is grief held in the body in Chinese Medicine?
Grief is primarily held in the Lungs in TCM, as this organ is tied to sadness and the Metal element. Prolonged grief can weaken Lung Qi, causing respiratory issues, chest tightness, or emotional numbness. TCM supports release through breathing exercises, herbs like Bai He (lily bulb), and acupuncture to strengthen the Lungs and disperse stagnant energy.
