The blood manages our Shen, or spirit, neatly housed in the Heart. When the shen is nourished with abundant Blood we respond appropriately to our environment. It allows us to build meaningful relationships, be calm, experience joy, and to feel rooted and able to adapt. When the Shen is unsettled or not anchored with Blood, emotional problems arise. Symptoms may include anxiety, nervousness, dream disturbed sleep, mood swings, depression, the sensation of floating out of the body, inability to root or ground, speech disturbances like stuttering, insomnia, and an inability to form rewarding relationships. In extreme cases, there may be irrational behavior, hysteria, insanity, manic disorder, and delirium. Support your blood with the Blood Nourishing Diet.
