Hello
Are you enjoying the arrival of Spring? I hope this newsletter reaches you happy and healthy.
Welcome to the third in a series of newsletters centered around health insights, tips and on staying
on an optimal path of health & wellness, from a Chinese Medicine perspective.
Announcements!
 Are you thinking of detoxifying your body and doing a body cleanse? Spring is an optimal time to cleanse the body. Talk to Sonia about how Chinese Medicine can help and support you through this process, and suggest a recommended way to cleanse that is not straining to the Spleen and Stomach energy system.
Package treatment rates are now available, and a great way to keep consistent with treatments, while saving money. Regular treatments make for better results. Please inquire with the office for more details.
Thinking of a healthy alternative to gift giving? Gift certificates are available! Please inquire with the office for more details. |
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Spring Into Wood
Wood is related to the organ and
meridian system of the Liver and its partnered
organ the Gall Bladder. In this season Wind is
predominant, and in our body, like in nature,
this Wind element is strong, activating, quick
moving and changing. This element and energy
system is also in charge of the tissue of the
tendons and ligaments and the sense organ of
our eyes. Too much Wind however, like in
nature, can cause tremors, clutter, local
damage and disruption. The goal of this season
is to promote the free, calm, easy and smooth
flow of energy, and strengthen our defensive
immunity system. This is important in order
for the organs to continue to function in a
healthy state, particularly the Liver and Gall
Bladder which has an affinity (both good and
bad) to this seasons' affects. The Liver is in charge of the free flow
of Qi (vital energy) and Blood. It governs how
much and how fast the flow is. If the energy
is too much, too strong, too powerful, or
conversely, too weak, the energy in our body
will 'dam up', get caught and clogged, and
cause symptoms like pain, soreness, numbness,
itchiness, headaches, itchy or dry eyes, and
irritability. On the more extreme side,
symptoms may include vertigo, dizziness,
migraines, tremors, etc. It is important for
our body to have proper circulation in order
for all the organs to function properly. If an
organ or meridian system is not receiving or
giving properly to the circulation of energy,
blood, nutrients, etc, an unbalanced state
occurs, and symptoms and illnesses start to
appear, both physical and emotional. Things
that nourish and promote the free flow of Qi
in the Liver and Gall Bladder are foods such
as carrots, radish, oranges, and spices such
as basil, garlic, cayenne, dill, chive and
cardamom. Herbal teas that also help promote
the free flow of Qi and relax our energy and
mind are peppermint, jasmine, chrysanthemum
and orange peel.
This season is also a time of allergies
because of the arrival of the Wind and the
pathogens that are easily carried with it.
People with allergies usually do not have a
strong defensive immunity system to fend off
the strength of the Wind and all the
pathogens. Hence, this is a time of year that
allergies predominate because the Wind is
stronger and overcomes the body's defences
and/or the body is too weak to defend itself.
Wood, the Liver and Gall Bladder, from
a psychological and emotional perspective, is
integrated with the emotion of anger and
stress. If our Liver and Gall Bladder is
functioning properly we are able to handle our
anger and stress in a healthy way, taking in
and reacting to what is worth it or not, and
therefore not allowing it to over time affect
physiological functions. In this season when
Wind is strong, the energy system in the Liver
and Gall Bladder in turn is being further
activated. However, if it is activated too
much, this excessive condition 'floods' the
system and the flow is disrupted and
congested. When the flow stagnates, whether
from the environment, our perception of our
environment, stress level, injury, trauma,
etc, physical symptoms can arise such as pain,
soreness, numbness, but also, emotional
symptoms can arise as it is a part of this
system. Regarding emotions then, this can be
seen on both extremes. On the one hand, the
tendency can be toward easily being angered or
irritable. Hockey, or even world events, at
this time of year sees more fighting and more
violent physical actions. On the other hand,
when the free flow of Qi is impeded,
depression can occur, from the simple blues,
to major depression, as our emotions and
passions get stuck.
From a deeper emotion level, the Liver and
Gall Bladder are in charge of our passion in
life, our inspiration, our action and
assertiveness. Anyone with timidity, lack of
passion or inspiration in life, lack of
assertiveness, inability to make a decision
and follow through with it, may have an
imbalance in this meridian energy system. When
this meridian system is free flowing and
balanced, we are happy, healthy, assertive and
passionate.
If you enjoy using aromatherapy at home, using
essential oils is a great way to improve the
state of our emotions and promote the free
flow of Qi. As essential oils go directly to
our Limbic system, they directly affect the
physiological responses mediated by the Limbic
system of how we 'feel' about something. From
a Chinese Medicine perspective, essential oils
go directly to the head and Brain, which house
our Shen (Spirit) and hence can directly
affect our emotions. Use essential oils like
Lavender, Bergamot, Mandarin, Chamomile,
Peppermint, to help promote the free flow of
Liver and Gall Bladder Qi, reduce stress,
irritability, anger, and depression. However,
be sure to use good quality, 100% natural
oils, as the synthetic, chemical and adultered
oils can cause reactions, and there are many
essential oils out on the market that are of
poor quality. If you are unsure of the quality
of your essential oil, please send me and
email or give me a call, and I would be happy
to advise you.
Since the Liver and Gall Bladder are in charge
of the tendons, as well as the free flow of Qi
and Blood, any injuries, both chronic and
acute, relate strongly to this energy system.
The systems' circulation gets impeded from an
injury and we experience symptoms such as
pain, soreness, aching, numbness, swelling,
etc. We also become more irritable, and feel a
little less happy. Any injury (or illness for
that matter) that feels worse with stress, is
affected by this meridian system and its
circulation.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this brief
insight on the season of Spring, the element
of Wood, and the Liver & Gall Bladder meridian
system. If there is any particular topic you
would like me to address and answer, please
feel free to email me, and I will make sure to
cover it at some point in one of the
newsletters.
Have a happy and healthy Spring!
Sonia |
