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GET
READY
SRING IS COMING
Spring is associated with the Wood
element, which governs the liver and
gall bladder. Strong winds are typical
during spring. The North and East
winds in spring could over-strengthen
the liver, which in turn could affect
the spleen. If so, a disharmony of
the liver and spleen occurs.
Allergy problems are abundant during
spring. If the liver is not
healthy, it could affect the spleen and
the lungs. Symptoms of this
disharmony between organs include: chest
congestion, sneezing, running nose,
itching eyes and other symptoms that are
associated with allergy problems.
It is very important, especially during
spring, to cleanse the liver and lungs
and to bring a balance among them and
other body organs.
TCM
practitioners pay attention to weather,
especially very extreme weather, like an
unusually windy spring. Extreme or
unusual weather can cause health
imbalances in people. Health
problems tend to occur during or
immediately following certain seasons.
The liver, which is said to “open into
the eyes” in
TCM, is associated
with cases of infectious hepatitis and
cases of pink eye, which tend to be more
numerous in the spring.
Spring Activities
• Simplify
your diet and eat an abundance of
vegetables – 2 to 3
servings twice a day.
•
Start a regular exercise program
that includes an outdoor activity to
enjoy the beauty and breathe fresh air.
Goal: build strength, flexibility,
resilience, health.
•
Spring-cleaning! Clean
out an area of your home that has been
neglected! Throw out, recycle or give
away unused items. This makes room for
new things in your life!
•
Clear out/release negative issues or
holding patterns. Let in
the sunshine and plant seeds of joy!
•
Simply be or walk outside in nature
daily. Savour the
smells, colours, sounds, sensations and
beauty all around you.
TCM
practitioners believe that a person
should cater his or her diet to the
seasons. Because spring is
associated with the liver, it is
important to have a diet that
strengthens and cleanses the liver.
There are many foods serving the purpose
of soothing and cleansing the liver.
Green is the colour of the liver and of
spring. Green and leafy
vegetables, especially if the plants are
young, help by cleansing and freshening
the body. They benefit the liver’s
overall well-being. Dandelion also works
well as a spring cleanser. A
balanced diet with a variety of juices
such as citrus fruits, pear, apple,
celery and carrot is very helpful.
Sprouts from seeds such as beans, mung,
and radish are valuable for spring use,
as well.
Did you know?
1)
The liver processes up to 1.5 litres of
blood per minute.
2)
One third of the output of the heart
flows to the digestive system.
This blood travels, rich with nutrients
and digestive impurities, to the liver
through the portal circulation.
3)
The liver’s vascular system expands and
contracts. It usually
holds one-tenth of the body’s blood
volume but, under certain disease
conditions, expands to hold up to one
quarter of the body’s blood.
4)
About one-half to two-thirds of the
total lymph in the body is derived from
the liver.
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