Free Flow = Pain Free
Pain is the Messenger: The Wisdom of Flow in Chinese Medicine
“Where there is no free flow, there is pain; where there is free flow, there is no pain.” — Chinese Medicine Proverb
Pain hurts, but it isn’t always a major problem. In Chinese Medicine pain is a signal of stagnation —a reminder to restore movement where something has become stuck. This “something” might be Qi (your vital energy force), Blood, emotions, or even your thoughts.
The ancient Chinese view of health is rooted in one simple truth:
Health is flow, stagnation is suffering.
What Causes Pain in Chinese Medicine?
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine) tells us:
"When the blood vessels are harmonious and regulated, the nutritive Qi flows freely; when there is free flow, there is no pain." (Suwen, Chapter 20)
When Qi and Blood aren’t circulating smoothly or even fully blocked, the obstructed flow leads to pain. Like a river that stops flowing, stagnation leads to buildup. This buildup might lead to pressure, discomfort, pain —or, like a stagnant pool of water, can become a breeding ground for bacteria and disease.
If you have pain or dis-ease in your body, where is the stagnation arising from?
Common sources of stagnation include:
Physical inactivity —of course right? Have you ever sat on the coach for so long that you actually got sore?
Unexpressed or suppressed emotions: have you ever felt a lump in your throat from an emotion you wouldn’t let out? It’s like this, and can manifest in many different ways. It is even a root cause of autoimmune disease.
Digestive weakness: weak digestion can lead to stagnation in the digestive system which eventually leads to other problems. For example: poor digestion can manifest as aching joints or arthritis even if there is no stomach pain.
Exposure to cold or damp environments: the body can get bogged down by damp and cold. Have you ever felt cold, clammy, and grumpy in damp coastal weather or during winter storms?
Physical or emotional trauma: physical trauma can lead to blood congestion and pain as the body attempts to recover, while emotional trauma is more energetic, it can manifest as physical blockages as well.
Flow is the Remedy
Rather than numbing or ignoring pain, Chinese medicine teaches us to restore the flow. We normally do this with acupuncture, massage, Gua Sha, Qi Gong, etc. But there are many ways you can take care of yourself at home. Here are six daily rituals to help you stay pain-free — in both body and mind.
1. Move Your Qi Daily
Qi loves movement. Stagnation loves stillness.
Walk after meals to keep digestion moving.
Practice Qi Gong, yoga, dance, or some kind of daily free flowing movement. The structure of most workouts doesn’t work. We want your Qi to flow, not your muscles to grow.
Gently roll your shoulders, wrists, hips, ankles, and neck to open your joints.
2. Breathe with Intention
Breath is your most direct tool to move Qi.
Try this: Inhale for 4, exhale for 6. Do this for 2–3 minutes with soft shoulders and eyes, sinking into your body.
Breathe into your belly as much as possible — where Qi pools and emotions often sit.
3. Eat for Circulation, Not Just Nutrition
Food is medicine. Cold and raw foods can put out the digestive fire, creating internal dampness and stagnation. Our stomachs should be like a gently stoked fire for maintaining optimal digestion.
Focus on warm, cooked meals especially in colder months.
Add moving spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne, or garlic for circulation.
Sip room-temp or warm water (skip the ice!)
4. Move Your Emotions
Unfelt emotions get stored in the body. Over time, they become energetic traffic jams. Think Emotion = Energy in Motion.
Journal honestly or talk openly to someone.
Use breath and movement to express stuck feelings (dance, stomp, shake etc.)
Let go of the need to be “fine” —your body wants to be unburdened so let it out and let it go!
Cry! Tears are the ultimate emotional release, they contain actual chemicals with the structure of different emotional energies.
5. Warmth and Touch Heal
Use warm compresses or moxa for tense or painful spots. Opt for a hot water bottle or magic bag over an electric heating pad!
Gently rub, tap, or thump areas of tension. Remember, movement is the solution to stagnation.
Acupuncture and other forms of body work can work wonders, never hesitate to book a treatment!
6. Adopt a Flow-Oriented Mindset
Pain becomes more painful when we fear it.
In Chinese medicine, pain is a messenger, not an enemy. Ask:
“What is this pain asking me to feel, move, or change?”
Use it as a signal to return to balance — not as an affliction to be burdened by.
In Closing: Flow is Healing 🌊🌊🌊
Healing in Chinese Medicine isn’t just about getting rid of symptoms like pain. It’s about restoring harmony to your body, mind, and spirit so everything can function properly as an integrated whole. By taking pain killers or looking for a quick fix —we can often miss the underlying reason or message.
By viewing pain as a messenger, we can uncover important information that corresponds to other aspects of our life —I encourage you to get curious.
If you prioritize movement and flow daily, you cultivate a pain-free, grounded, and healthy life.
So take a breath. Move gently. Eat warmly. And FEEL.
Let your life flow like a river again.
— Morven
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