LIVING IN HARMONY:
SPRING PART 2
Seasonal Lifestyle tools and adaptions for Mind/Body Wellness
Vol. 1 https://www.resourcevitality.com August 28, 2020
We do apologize! Due to an overwhelming spring, we made the decision to postpone the newsletter. Here it is now, to be followed shortly by the Summer edition.
Spring is the time of renewal, of rebirth. In the Wood element, it is the time of growth, of new ideas, of evolution. Spring is the time to flourish. The Wood Element generates mental clarity and the ability to focus. It is involved with our process of planning and decision making.
As Water is the element of Winter, Wind is the element of Spring. Wind is said to nourish the Liver but too much Wind will disturb it. The eyes are the sense organ of Wood, while tears are the fluid.
The emotion of Wood is Anger. Ligaments and Tendons are the tissues of Wood. The organs of Wood are the Liver and Gallbladder. The flavor associated with Wood is Sour.
Spring: Foods to Eat, Foods to Avoid — In Order to
Harmonize Your Body’s Energies with the Season
These food selections are based on their color, the meridians to which they travel, and their thermic qualities.
For Spring, choose, to steam, lightly saute, and boil as methods of cooking. Start adding raw foods to your diet, especially the early Spring greens. A glass of Lemon water 1st thing every morning is very helpful to the Liver and Gallbladder.
Eat:
Applesauce, Artichokes, Avocado, Basil, Beef, Beets, Blackberries, Black-eyed peas, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage, Celery, Chicken livers, Chives, Coconut milk, Cucumbers, Dandelion, Gou Qi Zhi (Go Ji)berries, Green lentils, Hawthorn fruit, Kefir, Kelp, Leeks, Lychees, Mung beans, Nori, Peppermint, Plums, Pomegranates, Quinces, Rosemary, Sesame seeds, Sorrel
Avoid:
Alcohol, Bacon, Barbecued foods, Canned soup, Canned veggies, Coffee, Fatty foods, Frozen dinners, Nuts, Potato chips, Pretzels, Red meat (excess) • Salty foods, Sausage, Sour foods, Sweets
Be cautious with Spicy Foods.
As you read over these 2 lists, understand that these are generalized. You can get much more specific, depending on the type of imbalance within the element itself.
The Functions of the Liver and Gallbladder according to Western Medicine:
Liver
• Produces proteins necessary to form clots
• Neutralizes and removes toxins from foods,
medications and drugs
• Filters blood from arteries and digestive tract
• Creates bilirubin, which aids in the breakdown of
old red blood cells
• Helps maintain normal blood sugar levels
• Creates blood cells in emergency circumstances
• Stores essential nutrients such as Vitamins K, D,
B12, and Iron
• Removes ammonia from body fluids and secretes
it in urine
• Produces bile and other substances to aid in the
digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates
Gallbladder
• Stores and releases bile
The Functions of the Liver and Gallbladder according to Eastern Medicine:
Liver
• Stores blood
• Governs emotional states
• Helps regulate menstruation
• Regulates the smooth flow of Qi
• Influences our capacity for organizing and planning
• Influences digestive functions of the Stomach and
Spleen
• Controls muscular activity, including the flexibility
and agility of tendons and ligaments
• Houses the “Hun,” which is similar to the concept
of soul or spirit
Gallbladder
• Influences our quality and length of sleep
• Controls judgment and the capacity to make
decisions
Liver 3
Location: On the top of the foot, in the depression between where the first and second metatarsal bones meet.
Functions: Used for dizziness, headaches, vertigo, epilepsy, painful and/or blurry eyes, irregular menstruation, depression, uterine bleeding and prolapse, urine retention, genital pain, frequent sighing, and insomnia.
DO NOT USE DURING
PREGNANCY.
Liver 13
Location: Directly below the lower part of the rib cage, at the free end of the eleventh rib. In line with the nipple.
Functions: Reduces pain in hypochondriac region and fullness in the chest. Also regulates digestion, relieves
nausea, borborygmus, indigestion and diarrhea, and supports the function of the Spleen.
Gallbladder 21
Location: Midway between the middle of the throat and the highest point of the shoulder, on top of the trapezius muscle.
Functions: Used for impairment of the shoulder and arm, stiffness, rigidity, and pain of the neck, shoulders and upper back. Also for cough, depression, difficult labor, uterine bleeding, breast
pain and abscess. Stimulates the flow of breast
milk.
DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY.
Gallbladder 34
Location: Below the outside of the knee, in the depression, just off the shin bone. Approximately 1 inch anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.
Functions: Used to relax the tendons
and joints, treats numbness of the leg, stiffness of the neck, shoulder and elbow, swelling and pain of the knees, face and head. Also for Gallbladder problems, jaundice, hypochondriac pain, constipation, and vomiting.
Gallbladder 39
Location: Approximately 3 inches above the outside ankle bone, between the
fibula bone and the Achilles tendon.
Functions: Used for stiffness and pain of the neck, hips, knees and lower legs.
Treats sciatica, ankle sprain, headaches, dizziness, nosebleed,
fullness of the chest and abdomen, cough, hemorrhoids, mania and anxiety.
Eliminate anger and frustration: Sit comfortably on a chair with your back erect. Place your right hand
on your lap, palm up, and your left hand on top of it, palm up. Close your eyes and focus your attention
just under your right rib cage, where your Liver sits. Imagine it glowing with a bright, grass-green light.
As you slowly inhale, raise your arms out to the side, palms up, and move them up and over your head.
Now your palms are facing each other. As you exhale, gently press your teeth together saying the sound
“SHHH”, and lower your arms back to the starting position. Pronounce the “SHHH” sound until you have
completely exhaled and your abdomen has been pulled in. Relax and repeat.
Liver and Gallbladder Channels
Exercises for the Spring:
These specific exercises are chosen for their ability to activate the
healthy body energies of the Liver and Gallbladder Channels.
The movements shown below are designed to open and stretch the
channels thereby allowing the Qi to move freely.
Hip Raise Pose
1) While lying on your back, bend your knees,
keeping feet flat on the floor. Grab hold of your
ankles and pull them close to your buttocks.
2) As you inhale, raise your hips and pelvis up, and roll your shoulders underneath you. Lift your thighs up as well. Tighten and contract your buttocks muscles. Hold this pose for a few deep breaths.
3) As you exhale, relax your muscles and lower
back down.
4) Repeat a few times. When you are finished, let go
of your ankles and relax completely on your back.
Gather the Moon Pose
1) Stand with your feet spread shoulder- width apart and knees slightly bent. Keep your arms hanging at your sides and shoulders relaxed.
2) With an inhalation, raise your arms out to theside and up over your head with palms facing eachother. Keep arms shoulder-width apart. Exhale and relax your shoulders, but keep your arms raised. On
your next exhalation, bend your body at the waist, as far to the right as possible. Do not bend forward.Keep your arms straight and knees slightly bent.
3) Exhale and extend the left arm, stretching the left side of your body. Inhale into the left side. Hold this pose for a few deep breaths. Exhale and gently return to an upright position.
4) Keeping your arms up, inhale and stretch yourarms upward. With a strong exhale, bend yourknees and squat like you are sitting in a chair. Inhale and stand up straight. Repeat for the opposite side.
Side Bend Pose
1) Sit on the floor with both legs extended out to your sides. Keep your knees straight.
2) Clasp your hands up over your head with your palms turned upwards.
3) Inhale and stretch your arms up as high as theywill go.
4) While exhaling, bend toward the right side at thewaist as if you are trying to get the right elbow to touch the right knee, while keeping your left elbow pointing upward to the sky. Stretch as far as you can without causing discomfort.
5) Inhale into the side of your body that is facing up, and exhale sinking deeper toward your leg.
6) Inhale, return to center and stretch your arms upward. Upon exhalation, repeat for the opposite side.
