Running Piglet Syndrome

The most adorable name for a panic attack

Your throat gets hot, your heart pounds, you feel tightness in your chest and can’t breathe, there’s a fluttering in your stomach, and you feel like you might actually die. If you’ve ever had a panic attack you’ll know what I’m talking about. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere and it can be terrifying.

In Chinese Medicine, the panic attack phenomenon is called Ben Tun or Running Piglet. The term was coined over 2000 years ago in the “Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet” and an entire chapter was devoted to these symptoms that feel as if a little piglet is loose and running wild inside the chest.

What a cute visual. But, trust me, it’s not cute when you’re in it!

I remember having a panic attack while stuck in traffic on the I-90 bridge in Seattle in my 20’s. I literally thought I was dying right then and there. When I finally got off the bridge and to the ER and the triage nurse asked me to explain my symptoms but they were gone.

Why do the piglets start to run? It’s always tempting to look into all of the emotional aspects of one’s life when panic arises but more often than not, there are physical imbalances to blame. Here are the main ones:

1.   Our Yin might be low and heat or Yang travels upwards. When the Yin is deficient, it means that our overall fluid balance is low. This can occur if we don’t sleep well, if we are dehydrated or have had too many warming/drying drinks such as alcohol or coffee. We can be severely low on Yin fluids after giving birth, if we have heavy periods, after a long illness or in cases of chronic pain. Hormonal changes especially in women in their 20s and 40s can also result in deficient Yin.

What helps?

• Getting good quality sleep.

• Slowing down with yoga, Qigong, meditation, walking in nature.

• Try drinking less, or preferably no, coffee and booze. Drinking more water and “watery” foods (fruits and vegetables, soups, broths).

• Minimize screen time. Electronics tend to burn up the cooling properties of Yin.

• Acupuncture and herbal medicine.

2.   Our digestive power is weak and we are over-thinking. In Chinese Medicine, people with weak digestion also tend to worry too much. This may manifest as loose stools or diarrhea, bloating, organ prolapses, muscle weakness, food sensitivities and blood sugar imbalances.

What helps?

• Getting outside, daily walking.

• Eating balanced meals of carbs and protein together to avoid blood sugar spikes.

• Simple warm foods.

• Nurturing yourself with a massage or simply taking it more easy than usual.

• Meditation to quiet the mind’s chatter.

• Drinking herbal teas.

• Acupuncture and herbal medicine

3.    Stress affects many organ systems in Chinese Medicine but the big two are the Liver and Kidney/adrenal systems. The liver itself sits underneath the diaphragm and this is where an energetic block often occurs with stress. The diaphragm can hold tension and it is thought that this inhibits the functioning of the vagus nerve.  The Kidney/adrenal system is responsible for the fight or flight response and in anxiety and panic, this system releases more adrenalin than is necessary for the situation.

What helps the Liver system?

• Breathing exercises.

• Responding slowly instead of reacting.

• Exercise like running, jumping or walking fast.

• Drinking water with lemon.

What helps the Kidney/adrenal system?

• Relax and try to gain perspective.

• Rest between 3 and 5pm every day.

• Practice Qigong, yoga between 3 and 5pm.

• Drinking water with cucumber.

And of course acupuncture and herbal medicine can be a great addition to your self-care! (Yes, I am biased:)

By following some of these recommendations, you will notice that your little piglets are subdued and they stay in their pen. The pen is located in an energy centre in the area below your navel called the Dan Tian. This is where our original energy and our personal power is stored. Qigong and martial artists learn how to access and store their energy in the Dan Tian and it is not uncommon for true masters to be able to throw someone across the room without even touching them. Qigong is gentle and easy to learn and will definitely help tame the piglets.

Just know that if you do start to panic, this too shall pass and your little piglets will eventually get tired. But here are a few tips for during a panic attack, just in case:

• Stay where you are until the panic subsides

• Find something solid and unmoving to hold on to and count to 180.

• Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 2, and breathe out for 8.

I hope this helps!

Thanks for reading,

Erin