Spring + Liver Health

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." - Lao Tzu, Chinese Taoist philosopher

Spring is considered a time of renewal for the seasons, mind, body, and emotions. Associated with the spring season and Wood element is the liver, an organ closely connected with the flow of qi in the body. The liver is responsible for bodily functions like detoxification, bile formation and secretion, digestion and metabolism, protein metabolism, regulating hormones, and various other important functions. Liver stagnation can cause problems like neck and shoulder tension, chest tightness, teeth grinding, eye issues (especially in right eye), feeling hot all the time, fibroids, prostate inflammation, hip pain, toenail discoloration, waking up between 1 and 3 am, digestive symptoms, PMS, migraines, poor sleep, irritability, impatience or frustration, anger, or feelings of being stuck in one’s life.

Spring is an ideal time to detox your liver to support your overall health and emotions. The word detox can imply that extreme measures need to be taken, but taking this kind of action is actually hard on the body and can cause negative detox symptoms. Practices like scalp massage and combing, daily movements like walking, qi gong or yoga, eating in season, addressing stored emotions, and castor oil packs are all holistic practices that encourage good liver blood movement and relieve stagnation symptoms. The idea is to support your liver in gentle ways that flow with the slow transition to spring. For severe cases of liver illness, seek professional help to be prescribed the best course of treatment.

Scalp Massage and Combing

Scalp massage is an ancient TCM and Ayurvedic practice that involves using a wood comb or brush to gently massage the scalp. Because there are 60 acupressure points and many meridians along the scalp, this practice relaxes the mind, increases blood and oxygen flow, opens blocked channels in the head, increases qi flow, and encourages hair growth. The gallbladder meridian curves behind the ear and down the neck. An imbalance of the gallbladder meridian can result in poor quality of sleep, lack of confidence, and pain in the rib area. Because the functions of the liver and gallbladder are closely related, an imbalance of the gallbladder can affect the liver. Scalp massage is a gentle way to open energy flow along the meridian and bring the body closer to well being. The best tool to use is a wood comb, because according to the Chinese theory of the 5 Elements, wood regulates earth, which is the element associated with skin. Wood is also gentle enough to effectively activate acupoints without scraping the skin.

Gentle Exercise

Exercises like yoga, qi gong, and walking can relieve liver stagnation by increasing blood flow, improving circulation, reducing stress, and regulating blood sugar. In TCM, it is not about how hard or long you workout, but is about consistency. Working out regularly moves qi energy throughout the body, unblocks anything stagnant, and restores proper energy flow to the body. Liver qi stagnation can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle, stress, or a lack of blood flow, but working out 4-5 times a week can increase energy and blood flow in the body. Symptoms of over exerting yourself in a workout include fatigue, headaches, inability to focus, or lightheadedness, and signal that your workout is not as beneficial as it could be. Yoga, qi gong, and walking are all gentle workouts that reap all the benefits of a workout without the negative side effects. Slow and gentle movements aid the body without over exerting it.

Eating in Season

Eating in season and liver friendly foods is an effective way to support your liver while detoxing. Avoiding foods that inflame the liver, while supplying it with foods that the liver can easily process will allow the liver to function at a higher level, instead of being overworked. Along with eating fruits, vegetables, and grains that are in season, there are certain flavors and foods that suit the wood element, and support the liver. Pungent tastes like ginger, peppers, clove, garlic, clove, and allspice increase heat and digestive action in the liver. Bitter and sour foods like green tea, lemon, bitter leafy greens, zucchini, guava, pomegranate, green papaya, green apple, and herbs like parsley, dill, and mint purge the liver and increase the flow of bile to help with cleansing and elimination. Seasonal foods like artichoke, eggplant, dark leafy greens, celery, green onion, cilantro, tangerine, rhubarb, kiwi, eggs, chicken, shrimp, and brown rice will be easier for your body to digest, allowing the liver a break from working too hard. Avoid alcohol and spicy foods in excess.

Processing Emotions

Every organ has an emotion associated with it, and anger, frustration, and impatience are associated with the liver and gallbladder. These emotions can be the trigger or symptom of an imbalance in the liver, and while the emotions themselves are not inherently problematic, the repression or inward expression of these emotions can have negative somatic results. When approached with compassion, curiosity, and patience, processing feelings of anger or frustration can have an upward momentum, allowing for growth and acceptance. Because spring is the time of upward growth and expansion, it is the perfect time to address any stored emotions that might be liver qi. Ways to process emotions include lifestyle changes, movement, social connection, speaking your truth, creativity, relaxation, and rest.

Castor Oil Packs

Castor oil is a vegetable oil pressed from castor beans, and has many medicinal uses, like castor oil packs. The use of castor oil packs to aid in liver detox is an ancient practice that helps support optimized liver function, improve detoxification and hormonal balance, and to reduce inflammation in the liver. A component of castor oil, ricinoleic acid, is known to help the body rid itself of excess toxins. It is recommended to use a castor oil pack 1-2 times/week to help support the liver if dealing with hormonal imbalance, detoxification issues, or fatty liver. When treating the liver, place the pack directly over the liver, on the right side just below the rib. Often used overnight, castor oil packs are beneficial during the hours of 1-3 am, which is considered the time when the liver is most actively detoxing and is highly active. Waking up during this time might signal that your body is ready to detox and needs extra support.

Allow your body to relax into the changing season by making small changes to your routine to support your body gently. Stimulate acupressure points and the gallbladder meridian through massage, add movement to your day, eat foods that are anti-inflammatory and encourage liver detoxification, process any stored emotions, and use castor oil packs to aid in liver detoxification at night. Gentle changes can have a significant and positive impact.

Resources

Fries, Hannah. “Your Liver, Your Emotions and the Flow of Qi”. Retrieved from https://mydaolabs.com/blogs/the-way/what-is-liver-qi-stagnation.

Kramer, Warren. “Love Your Liver: Lessons From Chinese Medicine (TCM)”. Retrieved from https://nutritionstudies.org/love-liver-lessons-chinese-medicine-tcm/.

Mischke, Michelle. “Love Your Liver: An Ayurvedic Guide to Fostering Liver Health”. Retrieved from https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/health-guides/love-your-liver/.

Stills, Sharon. “How to add a castor oil pack to your liver detox”. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/detoxification/how-to-add-a-castor-oil-pack-to-your-liver-detox/.

“Are Your Workouts Working Against You”. Retrieved from https://www.herbandohm.com/blog-posts/are-your-workouts-working-against-you.

“Eat with the Seasons: Spring”. Retrieved from https://fiveseasonstcm.com/blogs/traditional-chinese-medicine-101/eat-with-the-seasons-spring.

“Functional Medicine and TCM Liver Detox”. Retrieved from https://healingpoints-acu.com/functional-medicine-and-tcm-liver-detox/.

“How To Detox your Liver and be Ready for Spring with Traditional Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://www.academyhealingnutrition.uk/blog/how-to-detox-your-liver-and-be-ready-for-spring-with-traditional-chinese-medicine.

“Love your liver – cleanse your body”. Retrieved from https://www.8branches.com/articles/love-liver-cleanse-body/.

“Scalp Massage 101: The Easiest Guide to Massage Scalp at Home”. Retrieved from https://magnifissance.com/selfcare/rituals/easiest-scalp-massage-at-home/.

“Understanding Chinese Medicine: Liver Qi Stagnation”. Retrieved from https://www.holdenacupuncture.com/liver-qi-stagnation/.

Support Your Liver + Gallbladder in Spring

According to TCM, spring is a time of renewal and growth, and is also the time to better support your liver and gallbladder. When the liver and gallbladder are functioning properly, they impact muscles, tendons, joints, eye movement, and vision. Enzymes are produced that increase blood quality, which helps ease chronic illness, nerve damage, and other ailments. A sluggish liver can cause numerous ailments, such as stiffness, pain, constipation, allergies, rash, or irritability. If bile becomes stagnant, issues like jaundice, fever, aches, allergies, headaches, hypertension, rashes, or other inflammatory problems can arise. With an increase in pollution, medical drugs, radiation, pesticides, highly processed foods, and stress in our daily lives, it is more important than ever to monitor liver and gallbladder health to promote overall well being.

Flavors that Support Your Spring Organs

The Wood element governs the liver and gallbladder, and there are certain flavor profiles that stimulate the liver and increase heat, digestion, and enzymatic action in the body. These flavors include pungent flavors like ginger, peppers, strong tea, onion, garlic, clove, and allspice, and bitter or sour flavors like green and matcha tea, lemon, bitter green vegetables, zucchini, guava, pomegranate, green apple, parsley, dill, mint, cumin, coriander, fennel, and black cardamom. Combining 2 or more flavors at a time will increase effectiveness. A really good example of this is enjoying a cup of green tea with ginger and lemon.

Powerful, Cleansing Herbs and Flowers

Common herbs and flowers for spring liver and gallbladder support are aloe vera, coptis, neem, chrysanthemum, burdock, dandelion, hibiscus, tangerine, and rose.

The alkaline inner pulp of aloe can be taken internally to treat digestive cramps, PMS pain, headaches, acne, bad breath, irritability, liver pain, jaundice, allergic reactions to chemicals, and constipation.

Coptis is a bitter wild herb used to treat spring headaches and allergies, as well as kill bacteria and viruses, regulate the immune system, relieve muscle cramps, alleviate certain heart problems, stabilize blood sugar levels, prevent or improve gastric ulcers, alleviate diarrhea, reduce inflammation, prevent clots, correct digestive issues, improve skin conditions, and fight parasitic infections.

Neem is popular antibiotic bitter herb used in Ayurvedic practices to eliminate inflammation and toxins, as well as for treating intestinal worms, leprosy, eye problems, stomach upset, poor appetite, skin ulcers, diabetes, fever, gum disease, liver problems, birth control, and cardiovascular disease. The powdered bark of the neem tree is tasty when added to coffee, and has all the same benefits of the herb.

Chrysanthemum is a flower that can be enjoyed in tea and used for cooling the body. It can serve as a compress on the eyes when they are itchy or tired.

Burdock is a root that can be consumed in tea. The seeds are used to treat digestion and skin conditions. It is a cooling root but is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Dandelion flower is a tonifying and astringent herb that helps treat UTIs, fatigue, liver disease, and loss of appetite and also supports the kidneys and digestive system.

Hibiscus flower can be consumed in a tea to help support the lungs, liver, digestive system, and skin. It is a powerful liver cleanser and aids in eliminating blood stagnation.

Tangerine peel when dried supports the respiratory and digestive system, liver, and gallbladder. Their bitter flavor can be used to treat cough, congestion, loss of appetite, fatigue, and loose stool.

Springtime Rose Liquor

Rose uplifts with its fragrance and is believed to move stagnant liver qi. The below Rose Liquor warms the body and increases circulation to relieve stress and open up your senses in the springtime. A little goes a long way. Try adding a shot glass glass worth right before a meal to help stimulate digestion.

What you'll need:

• quart size jar

• 4 tbsp organic rosebuds (*it is important that the rosebuds are organic since roses are heavily sprayed with pesticides)

• 3 cups of Vodka

• 1/4 cup honey

Combine all ingredients and gently shake to incorporate the honey. Store at room temperature for 3 to 4 weeks and occasionally shake the jar. Once ready, strain and store at room temperature for up to 6 months.

Liver and Gallbladder Flush

Another way to support your liver and gallbladder is with a gentle flush. Flushing helps excrete liver impurities, stimulates bile, and has laxative effects. There are many options, but a simple and gentle flush is made of olive oil, apple juice, and lemon.

Liver Flush Recipe:

• add 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil to a glass of unfiltered apple juice

• add lemon to taste

• drink once daily

Detoxing Green Smoothie

Spring is the best time to start incorporating more Yang and uprising foods after a heavy winter (think: light and fresh foods, like smoothies). The health benefits of this smoothie come from the nutrients in the dark leafy greens. Leafy greens have chlorophyll, which helps purify blood, they aid in improving immune function, they promote healthy intestinal flora, aid digestion, improve liver and kidney function, and clear congestion in the lungs and intestines.

Holly’s Green Smoothie Recipe (From Healthy Green Kitchen):

• 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger peeled

• 1/4 lemon skin and all

• 1-2 cored apples

• 5 stalks kale stems removed

• flesh from 1 avocado

• pinch of celtic sea salt

• dash of water

Using a high speed blender, blend until super smooth.

Resources:

“How To Detox your Liver and be Ready for Spring with Traditional Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://www.academyhealingnutrition.uk/blog/how-to-detox-your-liver-and-be-ready-for-spring-with-traditional-chinese-medicine.

“Spring Cleanse with Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://www.pohalaclinic.com/blog/spring-cleanse-with-chinese-medicine.

“Spring Eating Tips Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://www.healthygreenkitchen.com/spring-eating-tips.html.

“Springtime Rose Liquor”. Retrieved from https://www.thewayofyin.com/blog/2020/1/31/springtime-rose-liquor.

Back on Track: Detoxifying from Summer

With the joy, warmth, socialization, festivals and fun of summer~ comes more unhealthy eating, drinking, stress, fatigue, and skipping routines.  Our bodies LOVE routine, so the waning of summer also brings back the steadiness of structure.  As we get back to our roots and recover from the summer holiday, we can use this transitional time to prepare our bodies for a healthy autumn.

heal your gut: Before your body can handle a real effective detoxification, the digestive tract needs to be addressed. Are you feeling bloated after eating? Do you get cramping or see changes in your bowel patterns? For baseline indigestion, bloating, belching and flatulence a daily dose of fermented foods and probiotics may do the trick.  If you are struggling to get digestion under control- invest in your health! Our nutritionist will get to the root of the problem with you and help you find the right foods to heal your gut.

sweat it out : Studies have shown that perspiration contains trace amounts of heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic.  A well-hydrated work out or sauna session can activate your lymphatic system and help you sweat out some of that bad stuff.    

go green : Green vegetables have a high inventory of nutrients.  Many of the body’s detox processes are linked to having adequate levels of vitamins and minerals.  Start cooking with generous amounts of spinach and cruciferous vegetables to maximize your detox nutrients.

citrus boost : Vitamin C is an immune booster.  It helps the body produce an antioxidant that neutralizes toxins and also enhances digestive enzymes.  Because we cannot produce our own vitamin C in the body, eating adequate sources in whole foods or supplements is vital to better immune health. Start and end each day with a glass of warm lemon water!   (strawberry, acerola cherry, citrus fruits, papaya, black currant, kiwi, bell peppers, brussels sprouts, melons, and dark leafy greens are great food sources)

controlled breathing : Oxygen is a critical component of natural detoxification.  Controlled breathing: a deep, 5 second inhalation through the nose followed by a long exhalation through the mouth- you will achieve a full oxygen exchange, swapping incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide.  This supercharges your lymphatic system to ward of toxins, pathogens, and waste. Integrate this controlled breathing practice several times per day.

drink more tea : Green tea leaves are withered and steamed, rather than fermented, so it produces a beverage that is rich in compounds that eliminate free radicals.  Start your day with a cup of green tea and a squeeze of lemon. 

assess your water quality: It is not just about quantity! Ditch plastic bottles of commercially packaged water and invest in a stainless steel bottle.  Update your water filters or start using one for all of you water needs at home.  Tap water can be full of chemicals used to clean the water- but also add more to the chemical load in your body.  Drinking filtered, cleaner water will help your body flush out waste at the cellular level and also support the GI tract and kidneys as they flush out those toxins. How much water? At least 1/2 to 3/4 your body weight in ounces.