The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie Why Trauma Returns in Midlife: A Chinese Medicine Lens
Dec 9, 2025
Dr. Lorne Brown, a pioneer in integrative reproductive and hormone health with over 25 years of experience, discusses the fascinating interplay of trauma and Chinese medicine. He explains how the body stores trauma in three layers and why this often resurfaces around age 40, particularly during perimenopause. They explore menopause as a spiritual awakening and the importance of emotional flow, likening feelings to a song. Lorne also shares practical modalities like acupuncture and breathwork to help manage and metabolize emotions effectively.
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Layered Storage Of Trauma
- Chinese medicine sees stored trauma as layered defenses that protect vital organs by keeping strong emotions from reaching them.
- Around age 40 the body reallocates resources and asks us to metabolize those stored energies rather than keep suppressing them.
Perimenopause Shrinks Tolerance
- Perimenopause shrinks the window of tolerance because fluctuating hormones make internal change a stressor the body must adapt to.
- If resilience is low, hormone shifts reveal previously compensated symptoms like brain fog and insomnia.
Menopause As Second Spring
- Menopause is framed as a 'second spring' where reproductive resources redirect to the heart and spirit (shen).
- This redirection supports a spiritual awakening and new social role as matriarch or community elder.
