**Spring Time is Liver Time!**Treat the Liver well by reducing Liver Qi Stagnation - simple acupressure & dietary tips
**Farmer's Market Reopens! Be prepared for parking on Saturdays.**Ashley, Summer and Noreen are up and running! On-line scheduling now available!---------------------Spring Time is Liver Time!
Ah, Spring. One of my favorite seasons in Portland. I can't help but step out my door every day, take a big whiff of the daphne planted just outside and feel rejuvenated as the sweet scent brings a smile to my face. Chinese medicine is an elemental and seasonal medicine, meaning that each season is associated with different colors, elements, organs and emotions. Spring in particular is governed by the Wood element, the element associated with the Liver and Gallbladder. Expressed by varying shades of green and connected emotionally with creativity and benevolence as well as occasional anger and frustration, it is a time of growth, change, beauty and regeneration. The Liver in particular is the Yin organ or substantive organ in the Liver-Gallbladder pair and has a number of important energetic jobs to do. Several of the Liver's most important jobs are storing blood (both energetically and physically), supporting digestion and smoothing the flow of the emotions. The most common Liver pathology causing distress and harm is when the Liver is stagnant and its energy is not flowing correctly. Stagnant Liver Qi can lead to anger, frustration, headache, neck and shoulder pain and host of other irregularities. Spending some time during the transition to Spring on keeping the Liver happy through acupuncture, yoga, massage, meditation or qi-gong can go a long way towards optimizing health and wellness in this exciting Season. Read on for some simple home care tips on making this happen!
Treat the Liver well by reducing Liver Qi Stagnation - simple acupressure & dietary tipsAs mentioned above, Liver Qi Stagnation is one of the most common Liver pathologies associated with Spring-time distress. Acupuncture and massage are wonderful treatments to help increase the flow of Liver Qi towards achieving optimal health, but sometimes it feels good to have something you can do at home in lieu of treatment if time and money don't permit, or to extend a treatment to get the most benefit possible from your endeavors. First, let me outline some common Liver Qi Stagnation symptoms to watch for, and then I will share some simple acupressure and dietary tips for reducing Liver Qi Stagnation and keeping it at bay.
Liver Qi Stagnation Signs and Symptoms
- pain and discomfort along the sides of the body including tops of shoulders/traps
- depression
- mood swings
- sighing
- hiccups
- inappropriate anger
- frustration
- bitter taste in the mouth
- sensation of lump in throat
- stomach ache that improves with massage and worsens with anger
- PMS with irritability and swollen breasts
- irregular periods
- temporal headache
Acupressure Points for Moving Qi
Massaging a series of 4 points - two points mirrored on either side - called "the Four Gates" is a popular treatment for moving Liver Qi to reduce some of the signs and symptoms mentioned above. An acupuncture treatment geared towards moving Qi will often include needling these four points, and while acupressure may not be quite as strong as acupuncture, it is still very effective. In addition to moving Qi, these points can have an analgesic (pain relieving) and calming effect - great for any stressful situation! Massage these points using moderate pressure with a thumb or index finger using small circular motions:
- Large Intestine 4 - He Gu - is located in the padded area of the hand between the thumb and the index finger between the first and second metacarpal bones. Looking at the Left hand, if you make an "L" with the index finger and thumb, it is in the center of the fleshy part where the junction or corner between the two lines of the capital "L" would meet. Massage this point on both hands for 30 seconds each. On deep pressure this point will be noticeably tender.
- Liver 3 - Tai Chong - is located at a mirror point on the foot - the deepest hollow below the gap on the top of the foot between the big toe and the second toe, between the first and second metacarpal bones. To stimulate this point you can use your thumb, index finger or the heel of the opposite foot to gently knead the point for approximately 30 seconds on each foot.
Dietary Recommendations to Reduce Liver Qi StagnationAnother one of my favorite aspects of Chinese Medicine is dietary therapies! Here is a simple list of foods that can also help relieve Liver Qi Stagnation. Incorporate as many or as few of them as you wish towards staying well in the Wood season:
- Milk Thistle Tea
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Cherries
- Chicken
- Mustard Seed
- Squash
- Sweet Potato
- Spearmint
- Red Bean
- Saffron
- Sweet Basil
Its a blessing to have their skills at our - and your! - disposal for helping us optimize our health through more wellness treatment options. I am certainly taking advantage of their skills and availability and you should too! Don't hesitate to go on-line to book today, or to at least check out what they are offering!
Thanks for tuning in!
Thanks again for tuning in. I hope you will take advantage of some of these Liver Qi Stagnation reducing Springtime tips - every little thing really does count when you are trying to be well and engage in a preventative health regime. Please remember that you can always book on-line via my website, email me direct or call at (503)445-8888 ext. 1 for appointments, consultations or if you just want to contact me with a question. Be sure to check back regularly for appointments - last minute cancellations and openings do happen - and if you ever want to come in on a certain day but there are no slots available, please email me and I will put you on a wait list in case something opens up that day.
Happy Spring, everyone, and be good to your Livers!
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