#springhealth

Discover why professional massage is your secret weapon for wellness this season. From boosting circulation to faster sports recovery, learn the 7 key benefits of massage in spring and summer.

Read more here: benefits of massage in spring and summer

Hello, Spring! Relating to the Wood element of Chinese Medicine, this season is all about growth, activity, vision, creativity, change and vitality. Speaking of growth, we are welcoming in Karmal Spaeth, our newest practitioner in May! Read on for seasonal wellness tips and details about our upcoming events - learn how you can harness the vibrancy of spring and foster the Wood energy in your life!

8 Health Tips for Spring

In Chinese Medicine theory, spring is the season of the Wood element, and it is the time of year when the liver and gall bladder systems are most active. The organ pair is responsible for the smooth circulation of Qi, or energy, in the body. This time of year, there is more activity and growth in nature, and some themes we see in our environment are fresh starts, rebirth, and renewal. In ourselves, we may feel more inspired to run a marathon, do a detox, start a new project, plant a garden, or spring clean the house - activities that show that our body's qi is responding to the energy of the season. 

For some of us, however, spring is not all sunshine and rainbows. Allergies, migraines, and stress may be more like it. If our body has difficulty adjusting to the rising energy of the season, we may experience symptoms of liver and gallbladder disharmony: muscle tension and tightness, frequent headaches, red eyes, premenstrual symptoms, fatigue, allergies, and greater anger, frustration, or stress. 

In the early spring days, here’s what you can do to support the health and optimal functioning of your liver and gall bladder:

1. Lighten up. To keep the liver and gallbladder clear, the diet should be light and contain foods which emphasize the yang, ascending, and regenerative qualities of spring. Too many rich, heavy, greasy foods congest this organ pair and impair their ability to effectively circulate qi and blood. This congestion is referred to as "damp-heat accumulation" (think: gallstones, high cholesterol, plaque in the arteries, or inflammation). 

2. Eat your greens. Green is the color of the Wood element and supports the health of the liver and gall bladder. Now growing in abundance, it is easy to include leafy greens into your meals. Sprouts are especially appropriate to eat, as they represent the “fresh starts” of the season. Bitter greens are cleansing for the liver and gallbladder and promote better digestion. Use sprouts on your sandwiches, add wheatgrass to your smoothies, or mix mustard greens and arugula into your salads. (Find seasonally inspired recipes that support the Wood element on our website!)

3. Savor sour. Sour flavors favor the Wood element and, like bitters, help to stimulate digestion and clear congestion in the liver.  The sour flavor has a moistening and softening effect, soothing tension in the liver channel and easing tightness of the tendons and ligaments. Try some sauerkraut or kimchi as a sour side dish, use vinegar-based dressings, or drink kombucha in between meals. 

4. Go for a walk. One of the best ways to move stagnant energy is to get moving and take in some fresh air. Stagnant energy can feel like: irritability, stress, writer’s block, or tension headaches. Walking is the exercise associated with the Wood element and is a quick fix for liver qi stagnation.  

5. Take time to stretch. The liver and gallbladder systems are said to nourish the sinews, ligaments and tendons and maintain their health and flexibility. If the Wood element is out of balance, these structures will be too tight or too weak. You may feel especially out of whack where these meridians travel: your ITB (iliotibial band), hips, psoas, ribcage, neck, and shoulders. Spending some time in a good stretch will help relax and bring nourishment to these tissues and relieve symptoms of liver qi stagnation. Triangle pose, side stretches, psoas releases, and gentle twists are best for the liver and gallbladder. 

6. Be creative. In Chinese medicine theory, every organ “houses” a spirit, which corresponds to a certain aspect of our psyche. Our ability to plan, dream, create, and have a vision relates to the spirit of the liver, the Hun (or Ethereal Soul). We can tap into the spirit of the Hun and keep our liver qi flowing by expressing ourselves creatively or starting new projects - spend some time drawing, painting, or building to keep your Wood element balanced. 

7. Easy on your eyes. The liver and gallbladder meridians open into the eyes, and oftentimes acupuncture points along these channels are used to treat vision disorders, pain and irritation of the eyes. An imbalance of these organ systems may be reflected in the health of the eyes, and likewise, overuse or straining the eyes can cause imbalance in these meridians. You can maintain the health of your eyes with simple eye exercises, nutritional supplements (omega-3’s, lutein, and vitamin C and E), UV protection, and less screen time.