Spring is here with a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. While winter was a season of eating heavy foods and conserving energy, spring is a time of action, movement and a lighter diet. In just a few weeks we will be cleaning our yards, houses and cottages. During this busy time let’s not forget our bodies and mind as according to Chinese physiology, seasonal changes can affect your well being and health.
Based on Eastern philosophy, spring corresponds to the “Wood” element which in turn is related to the liver and the gallbladder. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of energy (Qi) throughout the body and therefore it is the prime target for spring cleansing. Green is the colour of the liver and of spring. Thus, eating greens like lettuce, green beans, sprouts, spinach, and arugula, can improve liver functions. The liver can also be stimulated with sour drinks and foods such as putting a slice of lemon in your water or a touch of vinegar in salad dressing. The liver has an effect on tendons, muscles and nerves. Therefore, adding morning stretches to your daily routine will benefit them and will make you feel better. The liver also opens to the eyes and is connected to proper eye function.
About 70% of our body is made-up of water. Drinking about 8 glasses of clean water a day will not only hydrate your body but it will also help with cleansing. And to strengthen the cleansing effect, add liquid chlorophyll to your drinking water. This liquid supplement is available for sale at the retail section of our clinic.
If you want to improve your cleansing program even more, you should exclude any processed and fast food as well as dairy products from your diet as processed food is full of salt, sugar (or sugar substitutes) and preservatives, and dairy products can lead to the accumulation of mucus in the body (if you have weak digestion or lactose intolerance). Switching completely or partially to organic foods will also support the detoxification process by limiting the input of new toxins and chemicals from your diet.
Your cleansing program would also benefit from using a sauna, therapeutic massage and acupuncture.
Regular sauna visits will provide deep and total body cleansing as well as relaxation and will give you younger looking skin. In addition, saunas have a balancing effect on the psyche and emotions. To view tips on how to have a perfect sauna session go to our Blog.
Booking a massage therapy session during your cleansing program can be very beneficial to the detoxification process as this type of therapy stimulates blood and lymph circulation through the body.
Complementing your spring cleaning with acupuncture treatments can give you additional improvements in overall health and well-being. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes in the presence of 12 primary pathways (meridians) distributed throughout the body, most acupuncture points being located along these meridians. Needling points located on the liver and gallbladder meridian can improve the health of the liver as well as of related organs.
Don’t forget to exercise daily, especially outdoors. Jogging or walking, biking, Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates are all great choices. Bouncing on a trampoline is believed to stimulate lymphatic flow extremely well and to help with detoxification, however make sure you know how to use the equipment safely.
By Jolanta Kurz PhD, RMT, RAc
