The Surprising Link Between Grief, Lungs and Weight

In the intricately woven dance of life, emotions and physical health are intrinsically entwined. While this is sometimes very beautiful and guiding, other times difficult emotions can get underneath our skin and begin to drive our subconscious. Today we are looking at grief and how grief can significantly impact our well-being. Ayurveda being the most ancient known written “Science of Life” gives us insightful connections between grief, the lungs, and how our body holds, releases and sometimes won’t store weight. The lens of Kapha Dosha can guide us to develop understanding of this connection and pave the way for holistic healing and balance.

Kapha: The Pillar of Stability

In Ayurveda, Kapha is one of the three fundamental doshas, along with Pitta and Vata, that govern our physiological and psychological functions. Kapha embodies the qualities of earth and aspects of water, think mud, providing structure, stability, and lubrication to the body. It is primarily seated in the lungs and the upper stomach, areas crucial for respiratory and digestive health.

Kapha’s inherent qualities are heavy, stable, oily, damp and cool, which, like all Doshas and combinations, can be both a source of fortitude and potential imbalance. When Kapha is balanced, it promotes strength, endurance, a grounded sense of calm, sensuality, stable mind and emotions, love, compassion, forgiveness and patience. For example, if you are loosing steam for a bigger task, invite a Kapha person to help you. If you need a consistent friend that can listen, process and reflect compassion, befriend a Kapha. And, if you need someone who is passionate for a cause on your team, invite a like-minded Kapha that gets your vision. Basically, stamina, continuity and devotion are beautiful expressions of healthy Kapha.

However, an excess of Kapha can lead to sluggishness, weight gain, congestion, both physically and emotionally, and sometimes those emotions can feel very hard to move. (Move being a key word here! Read on.)

Grief and the Lungs: An Intricate Connection

In Ayurveda, grief can significantly disturb the balance of Kapha. The lungs, being the primary seat of Kapha, are directly impacted by unresolved grief or other emotions. This connection is not merely metaphorical; it has tangible effects on our health, our minds and our life trajectories.

When we experience profound sorrow, our breathing patterns change. Shallow and irregular breathing reduces oxygen intake, compromises lung function and eventually can cause inflammation. This disruption can lead to an accumulation of Kapha, manifesting as mucus, congestion, and a feeling of heaviness in the chest. Additionally, sometimes one may experience an event or repeated events that become very difficult to digest, literally and metaphorically. These traumas can put us into a survival mode and when that survival mode becomes patternized it can present as post traumatic stress. When one experiences a trauma trigger, the breathing becomes shallow, digestion is affected, etc.. Over time, we see people become hunched over, shoulders forward and the head hanging low in unresolved grief. Additionally, lines may become visible from the corners of the mouth down to the chin, often referred to as frown lines.

Also, grief can cause elevated levels of cortisol which affects the body in so many ways, each affected system could get it’s own article. But, for here, lets just say cortisol in excess can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, indigestion, scattered thoughts, and so on…

The Weight of Grief

Grief always has a source and is at the root of most other difficult emotions. When I work one-on-one with my clients, regardless of how it is expressing, whether they are predominantly working with anger, apathy, deep attachment, fear, or stuck in difficult patterns, it invariably comes down to grief and trauma. And, being steeped in the professional weight management industry since I was 19 has given me decades of experiencing this relationship between grief and how our bodies hold weight or not.

Additionally, grief and trauma are linked to obesity as well as eating disorders. In fact, the National Comorbidity Survey Replication found that 100% of those with eating disorders have been exposed to trauma. Other studies state specifically abuse and the majority of that abuse to be of a sexual nature. I would add that this could also include witnessing abuse as a child, towards the mother, a sibling, a loved one, pet, etc..

The analogy of weight being a layer of protection is not just an analogy. It literally does protect us in some ways and circumstances. So, if you are here reading this article, you may be in a safe place and ready to heal some of your own wounds. And, if so, feel welcome to reach out, but lets get back to the educational aspect.

Excess Kapha slows down metabolism, creates sluggishness, even stagnancy and this can affect all the systems of the body. For example, if the Circulatory System is affected one may experience a sluggish blood flow in symptoms such as swelling, lethargy and water retention; Edema is a very common expression of excess Kapha. In the Nervous System, low quality tissue formation can increase blocking or slowing the rate of neuron communication, this in turn can slow Prana and this can lead to various conditions well beyond a dull mind and lethargy.

Grief can make us feel as if the “rug has been pulled out from under us”, “without a leg to stand on”, or “with no ground”. This can lead us to feeling like we can’t even move and not wanting to. Prolonged grief to extremes can be completely debilitating. But, even moderate grief can have similar expressions and create these symptoms leading to an increase in body weight, loss of muscle efficiency and create or exacerbate unhealthy eating patterns, lead one to debilitated lung energy, affect breathing, disconnect us from our authentic self… and, so many other challenges.

Healing the Heart and Body

We all know grief. It is part of the human condition. Luckily, Ayurveda and many other cultures have addressed healing grief. We have learned so much in the process about ways to be with it, move it, befriend it, let it go, and embrace it when a wave of it returns. Engaging in some of these tools below can not just help us with processing the grief, but can get our Kapha moving, too.

Additionally, when we are out of balance we tend to crave the things that keep us out of balance and when we are in balance we crave the things that keep us in balance. So, to address the intertwined issues of grief and weight, it’s essential to adopt a holistic approach that nurtures both the emotional and physical aspects of well-being. Therefore, here are some strategies to support grief, lungs, and Kapha balance:

1. Pranayama (Breathwork): This practice energizes the lungs, oxygenation, the brain and metabolism, helps to regulate blood pressure, many benefits. Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) and Kapalabhati (Skull Shining Breath) are two such practices.
2. Mindful Movement: Gentle physical activities such as walking, yoga, and tai chi enhance lung capacity, boost metabolism, and uplift the mind and emotional body. Walking in nature can quickly activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
3. Herbal Support: Ayurvedic herbs like Ashoka, Tulsi (Holy Basil), Rose Petals (try some in a bath), Ginger, Rhodiola, Yasthimadhu, Arjuna, Anantamula, Shankapushpi, Mucuna, Turmeric and Brahmi or Gotu Kola can help reduce Kapha, invigorate respiratory health, support emotional balance and help with grief.
4. Balanced Diet: Favor foods that are light, warm, and dry. Include spices like black pepper, cumin, and coriander to ignite digestion and balance Kapha. Avoid heavy, oily, and overly sweet foods.
5. Emotional Expression: Engage in practices that allow for emotional release. Journaling, collage, art therapy practices, talking with a trusted friend, or seeking professional counseling can be profoundly healing.
6. Daily Routine: Establish a regular daily routine (dinacharya) that includes waking up early, a bit of mediation, regular meal times, and consistent sleep patterns to provide structure and stability.
7. Aromatherapy: Essential oils such as eucalyptus, peppermint, grapefruit, clary sage and rosemary to uplift the mood, clear nasal passages and invigorate the senses.
8. Hydration: Drink warm or room temperature water throughout the day to help flush out toxins and maintain proper hydration, aiding in the balance of Kapha.
9. Somatic Work: The body knows best how to heal itself. Find a somatic trained therapist, coach or other resource to help you learn how to listen to your bodies guidance.

Much Love and Compassion to You for This Process

By integrating these Ayurvedic principles and practices, you can navigate the journey of grief with greater ease and restore balance to your body and mind. Embracing these holistic approaches not only helps in managing weight but also nurtures the heart, fostering resilience and tranquility. If you are interested in learning more or working with Slimmerveda, don’t hesitate to reach out. We run our program only 2-3 times/year at this point, so come connect!

Here is a list of articles, medical research and interesting reads on the subject.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7909780/
2. https://swetavikram.com/ayurveda-and-grief/#:~:text=Grief%20is%20associated%20with%20kapha,which%20is%20called%20Tarpaka%20Kapha.
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6470311/
4. https://drshardaayurveda.com/blogs/ayurveda/know-how-to-balance-kapha-dosha-with-ayurveda
5. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/ss/slideshow-grief-health-effects
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9545485/
7. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eating-disorders-and-trauma/