General Healthcare in the Spring (from an Acupuncturists point of view)
Although it is still cold (and wet) outside, Spring is also here. While us westerners are accustomed to placing the beginning of Spring in March, The Chinese calendar marks seasonal change by the position of the sun and relative daylight hours in the day. Seen from this perspective we are already past 12 weeks after the darkest day (winter solstice) and are marching fast towards the Spring equinox (20th March) where the length of the day and night become equal. Because of this in spite of the cold, we can already see the early signs of Spring from the shooting of buds from the ground or from trees or from the observation of the change in bird, insects and animal behaviour.
So how can we humans embrace this fresh time of year and maximise our chances of good health? Well, first thing we need to do is to clear out the stagnation (mentally and physically) from the inertia and coldness of winter.
When we give our homes a ‘spring clean’ we also spring clean our bodies and minds – getting up earlier, exercising more, spending more time outside, stretching our muscles and tendons, relaxing our body and mind, breathing deeply, doing more yoga or even having more massages all play their part.
Spring represents the birth of life, and the beginning of an expansive movement ‘upwards and outwards’ fostering more creativity, freedom, and the cultivation of new plans.
A clean diet is also essential to help this happen, with plenty of young green vegetables including sprouted grain, beans or seeds. Aromatic food and herbs such as leeks, onions, garlic, chives, parsley, ginger, basil, bay and coriander are also recommended in the Chinese Medical literature because they help to shift stagnant energy.
In addition, foods that nourish the ‘Liver’ energy and the ‘Liver’ blood are also important and may include the modest consumption of meat, though vegetables and fruits such as dates, prunes, beetroot, spinach and grape juice for example play a role here too.
In Chinese Medicine it is most important to have a healthy physical Liver in Spring time. The Liver is the organ of detoxification but its functions in Chinese Medicine are numerous and extend to include maintaining healthy muscles, joints, eyes, nails, immune system, menstrual cycle and a freely-flowing and peaceful emotional life where one literally is able to ‘go with the flow’ free of prolonged irritation.
Unsurprisingly, Liver related disorders are very common in my patients at the acupuncture clinic and Spring is the best time to treat them. Disharmony that arises from ‘Liver qi stagnation’ including muscle pain, stiff or painful joints, headaches, irritability and stress, irregular or painful periods, sleep trouble and more, and a diagnosis of ‘inadequate quality of Liver Blood’ may give rise to muscle pain, fatigue, impaired immunity (e.g. allergies/hay fever), poor mental faculty and more.
Your acupuncturist will make a personal assessment of your individual condition and overall health and the quality of your Liver energy and blood and through subtle intervention with the insertion of only a few needles, these issues can be rectified before they before they may actually become a serious problem.
Chinese Medicine promotes a proactive approach to healthcare which is why we invite you to book in and have your treatment sooner rather than later!
To request an appointment or a free initial telephone consultation call Simon Casciano on 07816 113967 or email simon.casciano@gmail.com
You can also book directly online via Simon’s calendar here!
