A stagnated Liver Meridian can lead to headaches, migraines, constipation and a bitter taste. Sour is the flavor for spring, experience adding some of the following to your meal plan: lemons, pears, apples, grapefruit, kiwi, mandarin orange, olives, pineapple, strawberries, tangerines, and tomatoes. The Liver Meridian can be responsible for Qi or blood stagnation; this can cause any pain—Acupuncture helps relieve the stagnation. Include the following foods in your diet to help your body heal from pain: chestnuts, chili peppers, chives, crabs, onions, mustard leaves, peaches, and vinegar.
Blood deficiency needs tonics to build us up. Blood deficiency may leave a person pale, weak, dizzy and tired. This time of year, it would be beneficial to add the following foods helps to build up the blood: adzuki beans, apricots, beef, beets, eggs, dark leafy greens, figs, grapes, kidney beans, parsley, sardines, and watercress. Eye problems are involved with the Liver Meridian. Foods to help are cucumbers, tofu, water chestnuts, and chicken and the above-mentioned ones.
Helpful Foods for a Detox
Simple detox procedures are always good for the body in the spring since this time of the year represents new growth and releasing the old. The following foods help with a detox and support the Liver and Gall Bladder Meridians: black sesame seeds, celery, chives, clams, crabs, peppermint, plums, saffron, chicory, vinegar, and wine. I recommend two servings of fruit a day; keep it under 15 grams of fructose. Be sure to eat enough protein especially eggs, chicken, clams and crabs every day. One of my favorite detox foods is beets. I eat one every day in spring. Also, we love recommending eliminating grains. We are seeing incredible, yes, incredible changes in our patients who are following our recommendations with pain, brain fog, and weight. I have been following a grain-free meal plan for almost 7 years now, not 100% but about 90% of the time. The days I eat grains I see negative changes and after doing it for a few
Pollen, Cold & Sinus
Spring is early this year and now it feels more like summer. The pollen was the worse I can remember. More patients came in with cold/sinus issues but when they came in for treatment and medicines they recovered quickly. Acupuncture keeps the immune system working more efficiently and helps to fight off the bad germs. Lack of sunny days affects us all, and thank goodness, we did not have
Negative Emotions
This month almost everyone is feeling fear. Yes, Acupuncture can help with all emotions. We must now learn powerful ways to help ourselves. Acupressure (rubbing spots on the body) is helpful. Some great acupoints to rub are around the wrist; under the pinkie and under the “bird” finger on the wrist can help with fears and panic. Under the thumb can help with colds and coughs. The web between the thumb and index finger can help with sinus and sore throats. My favorite spot is on the outside of the leg under the kneecap about three fingers down. You can use either side of the body. Now for the Liver/Gallbladder Meridians. Rub between your big toe and second toe and around the outside of your ankles—that big bone on either side. It’s your body—just rub it. You can’t mess it up and good things will happen. Rely on your instincts; that’s how humans were developed and lived this long.