Tips to Keep You Healthy, Happy and Flexible.

Spring is a happy time. Bunnies hop about. Flowers emerge in long forgotten corners of your garden. The birds return and sing so loudly they wake you in the morning.

This is not a time to be angry.

But according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, being angry is exactly what you can expect if you don't balance your wood element.

In TCM, spring is represented by the element wood (木) . Wood represents birth and newness, the time for fresh ideas and new starts. Unsurprisingly, its color is green like the fresh growth of spring.

Wood governs your spine, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. A wood imbalance can lead to spinal problems, poor flexibility or arthritis. Wood also governs your eyes. But most important for your mood, wood governs your liver.

Your liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) (氣) and smooth flowing Qi means health and vitality. The emotion associated with your liver is anger. If your liver is imbalanced your Qi will be disrupted and you'll be angry.

Healthy (and happy) spring acupuncture practices mean balancing your wood element and caring for your liver. 

Healthy Spring Acupuncture Practices

● Cleanse. Cleaning your colon releases accumulated toxins, undigested food, parasites and fungi. With a clean colon your digestion is more efficient and your body is healthier.

● Detox your liver. Reduce or eliminate alcohol or drugs that are toxic to your liver. Consider a detox that specifically targets your liver. Call me if you need suggestions.

● Stretch. Start or recommit to a healthy stretching routine. Try yoga, Tai Chi (太極), Qi Gong (氣功), or other exercises that move, loosen and flex your joints.

● Exercise your eyes. Massage your face, especially around your eyes. Roll your eyes and move them in figure 8s. Practice focusing on distant objects and then focusing on close objects in quick succession. Put time limits on your computer sessions. These exercises strengthen your eyes and can improve your eyesight.

● Control your anger. Create a healthy anger management plan. Journal, meditate or get counseling. Put limits on stressful situations. Find activities that refocus your anger in healthy ways.

Healthy Spring Acupuncture Diet

● Eat light. Overeating taxes your liver.

● Eat greens. Sprouts, wheatgrass, spinach, kale and dandelions are particularly good foods in the spring.

● Eat sour? Sour is the flavor associated with spring, however sour flavors are only recommended for certain constitutions. Instead of dousing your greens with vinegar or lemon juice dressings, consult with me to find out what flavors are best for you.

● Drink milk thistle tea. Milk thistle detoxes your liver.

● Season your food. Pungent spices like basil, fennel, marjoram, rosemary, caraway, dill and bay leaf are excellent for spring cooking-and they taste good.

By keeping your wood balanced and your liver healthy you will be happy. You'll feel vital, flexible and clear. If you have questions about healthy spring acupuncture practices feel free to call me for recommendations. 

Recipe Corner

Quinoa Pudding

Here is an unusual, healthy dessert made from the staple grain-like seed of the high Andes, now available in specialty food shops and health-food stores. 

Ingredients:  

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups apple juice
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• juice of 1 lemon
• cinnamon to taste
• salt to taste
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• berries, sliced banana, or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions: 

1. Place the quinoa in a sieve and wash it well under cold running water. Drain and place in pot with 2 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, cover, lower heat, and boil gently until all the water is absorbed, and quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes.
2. Measure 2 cups cooked quinoa and to it add the apple juice, raisins, nuts, lemon juice, and pinches of cinnamon and salt to taste. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Chill. Serve plain, or with berries or sliced banana or a little maple syrup if you want it sweeter.
    

**Quinoa recipe taken from Eight Weeks to Optimum Health, by Andrew Weil, MD.