Ways to implement Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
to supplement your health during the Season of Spring
As a TCM Doctor and Licensed Acupuncturist, I endorse using the 5 Element Theory to enhance health & well-being. Energetically speaking the Liver and Gallbladder are associated with the Season of Spring in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Liver is paired with the Gallbladder and their emotions are anger.
TCM 5 ELEMENT THEORY: THE BASICS
Each Element is associated with an organ, season, and color etc.
1. Wood: Liver/Gallbladder, Spring, Green.
2. Fire: Heart/Small Intestine: Summer, Red.
3. Earth: spleen/Stomach, Fall, Green
4. Metal: Lung/ Large Intestine, Fall, White
5. Water: Kidney/Bladder, Winter, Black
The Springtime is a great time to release stagnant/stale energy that has built up in the body during the Winter. This can be done by using breathwork and meditation, adding walking, yoga or qigong to your routine. The best way to release negative energy is to simply let go of things that are no longer serving you or improving your health, physically, mentally, or spiritually.
I also encourage you to explore other ways to decrease stress and discover ways to release harmful built-up emotions. Finding time to play, laugh and journalling are a few notable examples of activities. Of course, you can also implement changes into your dietary habits that will always improve your health and wellness.
Here are a few of my recommendations applying a TCM Food Therapy.
The goal is to begin by eating foods that nourish the Liver & Gallbladder.
The best flavor for foods that nourish the wood element are sour and less sweet and fermented.
Include the following suggestions during the Spring: plums, pears, apples apricots, grapes, kiwis, lemons and limes.
Other recommendations include lima and adzuki beans, yogurt, carrots, beef, pork, lobster, oysters, shrimp, trout and vegetables such as, broccoli, artichokes, celery, leeks and spinach. You can also add Olive oil, Vinegar and spices such as, chives, fennel, mint, garlic, rosemary, oregano and sage.
Other recommendations include lima and adzuki beans, yogurt, carrots, beef, pork, lobster, oysters, shrimp, trout and vegetables such as, broccoli, artichokes, celery, leeks and spinach. You can also add Olive oil and Peanut oil, Vinegar and spices such as, chives, fennel, mint, garlic, rosemary, oregano and sage.
Drinking plenty of water and teas that include chamomile, dandelion, jasmine and peppermint will also nourish the Liver & Gallbladder.
According to TCM theory when there are imbalances in the organs the body will crave certain tastes/flavors of foods that will nourish that element/organ in order to restore balance, expel disorders and restore optimal function. This is based on the controlling (Ko/Ke) cycle in TCM 5 Element Theory. The 5 elements are interdependent, connected and always interacting with each other to maintain balance, harmony and also can overact upon each other and lead to imbalances and disharmony within the body. This is why TCM Doctors and Acupunctures focus so much on the importance of restoring homeostasis and encouraging moderation in everything.
If you have food sensitivities or allergies, please do not add foods that will lead to lead to imbalance/illness or inflammation. As always contact your doctor before beginning any new dietary changes.
If you have questions about services offered at the clinic:
TCM SERVICES, MEDITATION, YOGA, QIGONG, TCM FOOD THERAPY, etc
Please contact me directly via email: eby@anmedi-zen.com or call/text me at 952-261-3542.
Peace, Love & Chocolate,
Dr. Sharon
Comments