Traditional medicine in burnout

Chinese medicine shows success in stress-related illnesses

26/02/2013

A look at the current stress report makes it clear that employees are under strong psychological pressure. But that's not all: even the sick days due to burnout syndrome increased according to health insurance companies within eight years to the 18-fold. But not only managers, but also employees without leadership responsibility and sometimes even children. Who the feeling of „Being burned-out and wanting to escape total emotional exhaustion often seeks help in mental health institutions, including mental and physical causes of burnout - at least that's what Chinese medicine sees as its traditional holistic approach to treating exhaustion.

The feeling of being less and less able to cope with everyday life is compounded by physical symptoms such as pain, tension, insomnia and overly frequent infections during burnout. „Therefore, at the beginning of the treatment, we start energy blockages, which are often expressed by back pain or neck tension as well as insomnia, through special forms of massage such as Tuina or Shiatsu. In addition, Chinese medicine puts the body back in a position to fend off infections itself“, describes Dr. Christian Schmincke, General Practitioner and Head of the Chinese Medicine Clinic at Steigerwald. Often, only physical recovery has a positive effect on the mental health of those affected. For TCM physicians, the treatment of the patient as a psychosomatic whole is a matter of course. All Chinese methods always affect the body and psyche. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, burnout begins in the abdomen, the middle organ of the body. This process not only food, but also feelings and social challenges. „After a detailed medical history, we almost always find that the burn-out patients are overburdened with the sorting function of the middle organ“, clarifies Schmincke. Chinese medicines that decoys patients strengthen the organism so that they can re-live the vital rhythm of exhaustion and recovery.

In addition, TCM experts also provide guidance on lifestyle. „Many patients are still under constant stress before therapy. The sentence: 'I have two weeks time, make me healthy again', we often hear from those affected“, clarifies Schmincke the stress spiral in which patients are stuck. By embedding the discussions in a comprehensive therapy concept, it is possible to minimize such high expectations, which additionally worsen the demarcation ability and leave little room for recovery. In addition to Chinese medicines, 5-pill therapy also includes acupuncture and moxibustion, gentle body therapies, qigong and vegetarian diet. (Pm)