Hey, future acupuncturists! Welcome to another episode of Study Acupuncture With Me—I'm Dr. Richard Lai, and I’m here to support you every step of your TCM journey. Whether you’re prepping for exams or building your clinical confidence, you’re in the right place. Grab your notes, settle in, and let’s dig into a topic EVERY student encounters.

In today’s episode, we explore how stress—and those bottled-up emotions—show up in your digestion. We’ll break down the essential liver-spleen relationship, explain the classic Liver Qi attacking Spleen pattern, and go over real-world tips for both diagnosis and treatment. This episode is packed with practical advice, clear explanations, and clinical pearls you can use right away. If you’ve ever wondered why emotional stress can literally make your stomach upset, this is the episode for you!

Timestamps to guide your listening:

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  00:00:00 – Welcome & relatable patient stories

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  00:00:37 – The emotional connection to physical symptoms

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  00:01:05 – Stress, digestion, and Liver Qi/Spleen dynamics

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  00:01:47 – TCM roles of liver and spleen

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  00:02:13 – How stress disrupts harmony

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  00:02:46 – Clinical manifestations & patient language

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  00:03:49 – Mechanism in TCM (Five Elements explained)

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  00:04:27 – Emotions and digestion analogy

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  00:06:16 – Long-term consequences & triggers

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  00:08:40 – Lifestyle strategies for balance

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  00:09:31 – Dietary and mindful practice tips

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  00:10:01 – Key acupuncture points for Liver-Spleen balance

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  00:10:41 – Clinical treatment tips and reminders

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  00:11:33 – Recap & encouragement

• 00:12:21 – Special invitation to join the Quick Win newsletter

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