Spring - Time for a new start!
What can you do to support your bodies transition into spring?
After the quiet and darkness of winter we welcome the light of spring. The energy change is palpable and there are things our ancestors did to help transition and prepare for this new cycle of growth. While our ancestors did this out of necessity, we have an overwhelming array of options today. The wisdom in living in tune with nature to support a healthy balance in life remains. This is the season of new beginnings and there’s a reason for the term ‘spring cleaning’. Just like we want to clear out the cobwebs in our home, we can also clear the ‘cobwebs’ in our body.
East Asian Medicine (EAM) sees us as an integral part of nature and the changing seasons. Spring is associated with the Liver in EAM, and this is the perfect time to do things to support your Liver and it’s function. The most obvious aspect of the Liver is to store and filter our blood, can you see where this is going? Our liver has to be functioning well to do this filtering and thus the connection to spring cleaning. When I studied acupuncture we learned that the Liver ‘dredges’ the channels. Just like a channel which boats transit, sediment builds up and must be dredged to keep things moving freely. What does it feel like when things don’t flow smoothly in your body? It affects your energy, emotion and physical sensations, so we see lethargy, frustration and pain. There are things that can we do to help support our liver so it can keep things flowing smoothly. Let’s focus on a few simple things we can do to support the Liver to improve these 3 things: exercise, food choices and mental state.
By exercise, I mean movement. The energy lift you feel when you have a brisk walk is what I’m talking about. You don’t have to undertake a fancy new exercise regimen, add a 5 minute brisk walk to your day. Do this for 3 weeks and you’ll find that your Liver is happier. Ok, so maybe you won’t actually think, ‘oh my Liver is happier’, but you will notice you are happier and feeling less lethargic, so you will know your Liver is happier.
Food choices. I’m not talking about a dieting or big diet changes. Simply add a few things that will help support your Liver. Spring greens are a wonderful Liver tonic. The bitter sour flavours that astringe help get out the cobwebs in your Liver. These can be raw or cooked and include fresh greens like: spinach, kale, mustard, chicory, arugula, and mizuna. Try adding some fresh lemon or lime to your water and remember to drink more water if your not getting enough.
What are you thinking about? Is your mind racing with all the things that you need to do? I invite you to carve 3 minutes out of your day for yourself. Three minutes, you ask, what can that accomplish? Remember we’re talking about beginnings, so yes it may grow into something more, but for today it’s just 3 minutes. One of my favourite ways to spend 3 minutes is what Suzanne Giesemann calls ‘Sit in Peace’. Watch her 10 minute video to learn about this and how 3 minutes can transform your entire day.
There are your 3 steps. Small, easy to take steps, you can implement that will get you off to a great new start this spring.
Well what about acupuncture? Yes, of course acupuncture is a great way to support your body and especially your Liver function right now, combine your acupuncture treatments with these 3 things you can do yourself to clean out those cobwebs and supercharge you.
