Support Your Liver for a Joyful Spring

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On March 19th, 2024 we celebrated the Spring Equinox, when we have an equal amount of daylight and darkness, and the official arrival of Spring. With this balance of light and dark, nature is inspiring us to balance our own internal yin and yang. As nature is beginning to reawaken, we are naturally transitioning from our yin (quiet/restorative) energy to a more yang (active/expansive) energy. We may begin to feel these subtle shifts within ourselves.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring is associated with the Wood element and the corresponding organs are the Liver and the Gallbladder. These organs focus on cleansing, detoxifying and rejuvenating to ensure optimal physical and emotional health. Spring is thought to be the best time of year to cleanse the body of toxins, as well as old, stored emotions of frustration and anger. 

From a Chinese medicine perspective, the free flow of liver and gallbladder energy is the number one disease preventative. It is best way to guarantee health and harmony. By cleansing the liver, we rejuvenate our body and mind, and slow down the aging process.

Help Keep Your Liver Happy:

Green up your Diet: The liver energy is associated with green, so spring is a great time to think about adding some more green to your diet. Foods such as broccoli, peas, lettuce, and kale all help the liver qi energy flow smoothly and efficiently.

Lemon Water: Sipping lemon water first thing in the morning helps stimulate the liver and begin the detoxification process. This is most helpful upon waking as your body has been busy detoxifying while you’re sleeping. Lemon water first thing helps in our elimination of these toxins and supports optimal liver function.

Move: The liver thrives on exercise as it moves energy around the body and gets our lymphatic system going, which is dependent on movement. Movement becomes more limited during the winter, contracting our muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. Stretching and exercise will help release toxins that have become stored in these tissues over the winter months. It’s also a great time of year to receive Detox Reflexology and Therapeutic Massage to increase the movement and purging of these stored toxins.

Practice Forgiveness: The liver energy likes to feel free of resentments and grudges. The spring time is a beautiful season to practice forgiveness and letting go of any burdensome grudges. Keep in mind the Buddhist quote; ‘Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die’. Make yourself and your liver happy and practice releasing any grudges you may hold.

Castor Oil Packs: Castor oils packs are an ancient practice that help reduce inflammation in the liver and improve detoxification and overall liver function. When treating the liver, simply place the pack on the right side of your body, just below your ribs. Castor oil packs are a simple, effective ritual to add to your spring routine to help keep your liver happy.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can work to support and improve your liver qi energy and help treat stress, anger and frustration - all typically associated with liver disharmony. Liver imbalance also shows up as sciatica, migraines, PMS and menstrual issues, frequent sighing, digestive issues. Acupuncture can help restore your balance and get your liver qi energy flowing to promote feelings of joy and peace.