Springtime Wellness with Chinese Medicine
The winds of change are officially upon us as we transition into springtime. With all this change, how do we stay balanced and grounded? As you remember from the previous blog, Spring is the season of the Wood Element in Chinese Medicine (CM) Theory. The energetics mimic what we see in nature: rebirth, growth, renewal, moving upward, and reaching for new heights. Spring is a metaphor for new ideas, creativity, and setting plans into action. It is this burst of energy that has been on reserve all winter long, and thus, the body is more prone to blockages and what we call “Energy (Qi) Stagnation” in Chinese Medicine (CM).
The Liver, according to CM theory is responsible for the smooth flow of energy (Qi) in the body. When the energy stagnates, anger arises, depression, irritability and mood changes occur, headaches, migraines, muscle tension and tightness take hold, and pain increases. Women may experience an increase in PMS symptoms, menstrual cramps and pain. Kids may have a harder time falling and staying asleep, and feel more restless and irritable.
The resistance and lack of energy flow are similar to a tree branch snapping in the wind. Often times, our anger bubbles up and we “lose it.” When the Wood Element/Liver is in balance, we learn to bend and sway with the winds of change, like a bamboo tree or willow branch.
Some tips to “smooth the flow of energy (Qi) in the body include:
Move, move, move!! I mentioned this in the last blog, and I am reiterating it because it is so important and effective in alleviating stagnant energy in the body, improving your mood and blood circulation, and aiding in digestion.
-Walk or ride your bike around the block every day.
-Take a stroll around town or at the beach.
-Start a Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong class in the community or online.
-If you do not already have an exercise routine in place, start with a simple 15 minute walk every day. Set a timer and keep moving! Remember, we don’t have to spend hours at the gym to soothe the Liver Qi, we are talking about gentle, yet effective movement. It is about nourishing and moving stagnation, rather than depleting your resources.
Utilize Essential Oils to calm the mind, body, and spirit. Essential Oils can be placed in a diffuser or inhaled. My favorites for soothing the Liver Qi include: Roman Chamomile to calm the nervous system, Lemon and peppermint to invigorate and move the energy (Qi), cedarwood, sandalwood, and vetiver to ground the energy, and calm the mind.
Support Liver Detoxification by giving your Liver a break from metabolizing harsh chemicals such as over the counter medications, recreational drugs and alcohol. Take a break and have some peppermint or chamomile tea with lemon, drink a glass of water with lemon in the morning, and add in all those yummy food therapy ideas from the previous blog post.
Get Acupuncture! Acupuncture works by tapping into the body’s resources to bring about equilibrium. Once the body is in balance, then it can function at optimal levels and heal itself. The body can be easily thrown out of whack due to stress, poor sleep, inadequate diet, or trauma, and acupuncture treatments facilitate a re-boot similar to rebooting your computer when it’s not working properly.
Try Chinese Herbal Medicine! A very popular herbal prescription for soothing the Liver energy (Qi), nourishing the blood, and harmonizing the body is a formula called Xiao Yao San, Free and Easy Wanderer. Contact Dr. Jen to see if this is a right fit for you.
If you want to chat, I am here for you Sarasota. Don’t hesitate to reach out via email, text or phone call. I look forward to helping the community on a path to health and wellness. Enjoy the beautiful energy of the Wood Element this Spring.
Dr. Jen Maecker, DACM, L.Ac is an Acupuncture Physician serving the Sarasota, FL community.