Organs Systems involved:
Liver and Gallbladder
Element:
Wood (like bamboo, strong yet flexible)
Tissue or area of the Body:
tendons and ligaments (be sure to warm up those muscles
and stretch prior to and after exercise)
Emotion:
Anger and Emotional Upheaval overall
Taste or Flavor:
Sour or Pickled foods
Color:
Green (wearing green clothes, eating green leafy vegetables,
placing a green plant on your workstation, taking a walk in
nature as the trees and plants begin to grow)
How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help Restore You
This Spring Season
Spring is an ideal time for renewal, resurgence of life, coming out of the darkness and the cold of winter into warmth and light. It is the enduring promise that life goes on. Spring asks us to be strong and flexible as we begin to venture out of our winter hibernation and isolation. This is particularly true given how we’ve had to isolate from each other during the pandemic. Through Acupuncture, gentle movements like going for walks, and shifting our diets to reflect the season, TCM teaches us that our bodies can begin to wake up and come back to life just as nature begins its rebirth.
TCM utilizes time honored tools to help support our body as the seasons shift and change. Some of us may feel “off”, drained, stiff, or exhausted as we approach the early days of Spring. Your liver (the organ most associated with the Spring in TCM) is beginning to awaken to its associated season. It becomes especially active, yet vulnerable, if not supported properly. The liver in TCM, is responsible for smooth flow of qi and blood throughout the body. See below for common symptoms of liver imbalance and stagnation.
When common symptoms of Liver system imbalance show up, Acupuncture will work to restore balance to your liver during this transitional period. For example, due to the Liver’s association with the emotion of anger this is an ideal time for an Acupuncture treatment to help release anger and emotional upheavals you may have built up over the last several months. While improving overall Liver function, a treatment can also help to alleviate symptoms associated with allergies while strengthening your immune system… something we can all benefit from this year!! Since the Liver channel is responsible for the tendons and ligaments of the body, Acupuncture can also help alleviate pain associated with tense or stiff muscles, especially from sitting for long periods of time or working on the computer. How many of us are suffering from a stiff neck, or joint pain with movement?
If you can say yes to any of the following, it may be time to
schedule your next Acupuncture treatment:
Are you feeling extra tense? In TCM, the Liver system is responsible for smooth flow of qi and blood throughout the body. When the Liver is not at its best, things like emotional stress, rigid posture, shallow breathing, and jaw clenching may become increasingly worse.
Are your headaches back? Tension headaches and migraines may be more common and menstrual cramps can also worsen during this time of the year.
Are your muscles stiff? If things aren’t flowing smoothly, you may begin to experience stagnation-type symptoms that include pain, pressure, tightness or restriction. You may notice increased stiffness, tension or tightness in your muscles and joints. This is because the Liver and its associated system, Gallbladder, nourish your connective tissue, tendons and ligaments.
Are you feeling irritable? While your life may be going well, you might feel more easily annoyed and frustrated lately. Liver imbalances can also carry emotional symptoms. Your fuse may even be shorter than usual. Anger and general emotional upheaval is associated with the Liver/Gallbladder system.
Is your digestion off? When proper flow of qi and blood is disrupted, digestive disturbances can occur. Are you experiencing an increase in heartburn, gas/bloating, ulcers?
Are your eyes troubling you? Poor vision, dry eyes, fatigue, and eye pain can be linked to Liver system imbalances.
Is your sleep off? Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep - especially if you’re waking between 1 and 3 am - can be directly linked to imbalances of Liver function.
In addition to Acupuncture, your practitioner can recommend herbs, teas, gentle exercises, food and essential oils for use between treatments to further support and rebalance your body.
If you’re finding yourself feeling out of balance this season, make an appointment for a treatment today, our staff is ready to help you spring into the Spring season!
Spring Lifestyle and Diet
The energy of Spring is expansive and outward moving. It is time to start exercising and sweating more. Begin cooking and eating lighter meals. In the Spring, steaming and stir-frying is more appropriate. It is beneficial to eat more leafy greens (kale, dandelion, collards, mint). Try to eat whole foods that are pesticide and preservative-free so that the Liver doesn’t have to work so hard. The sour flavor is associated most with the Liver organ system and should be incorporated into your diet to help to balance the liver energy (pickles, kimchi, citrus fruits, vinegar, yogurt). Try to be conscious to include good oils into your meals (flax oil, sesame oil, olive oil) and drink lots of fluids (lemon can be added to water). Eating seasonally and pasture-raised foods can also be very helpful.
