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Ready to Renew?
A patient of mine told me that today she took
pictures of crocuses blooming on her way to my office. Spring is the time when flowers bloom, leaves
grow back, and birds return from the south.
Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and principles are based on
observations of nature. Spring is a time
of renewal for our bodies as much as it is a renewal for nature. What can you do to help in this revitalization?
According to TCM, the key organ of springtime is
the liver, a major organ of detoxification.
It filters our blood of toxins that are inhaled, ingested, and absorbed
through the skin. Even if you are
careful to eat healthy; avoid smoking, drinking, and drugs; and use natural
bodycare products and household cleansers, in our modern world, the liver still
has an enormous task! We still breathe
polluted air and it is a daunting challenge to avoid all chemicals, so our
livers could definitely use a healing hand.
Why Cleanse?
A stressed liver may result in headaches, allergies
and sensitivities, tearing or inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and muscles,
stiff neck and shoulders, anger, irritability, frustration, depression, high
blood pressure, eye problems, fatigue, and skin problems, amongst other things.
Food Cures
It’s no coincidence that the colour related to
the liver energy is the same colour that we tend to see more and more of during
spring: green. While winter has us
craving heavier, richer comfort foods, spring brings a time when we should
lighten up. Choosing more leafy green
veggies and sprouts fits with what foods become locally available. If you are veggie-challenged, consider adding
a greens food supplement such as spirulina for its
energizing, nutritious, and detoxifying properties.
Here are some other foods
especially suited to boosting liver energy during springtime:
- Vegetables: onions, beets, cabbage, turnip root,
daikon radish, radishes, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts,
romaine lettuce, asparagus, celery, lettuce, cucumber, watercress, parsley,
swiss chard, artichoke, dandelion leaves
- Fruits: strawberries (choose organic), dark
grapes (choose local or imported), blackberries, lemon, lime, grapefruit; small
amounts of peaches (choose organic)
- Grains: brown rice, sweet rice, basmati rice,
sprouted grains, whole grains, rye, quinoa, millet, oats, barley, amaranth,
roasted buckwheat groats (kasha); naturally leavened, whole-grain sourdough rye
bread okay
- Spices: turmeric, basil, basil leaf, cardamon,
marjoram, cumin, dill, ginger, black pepper, rosemary, mint.
- Lots of room temperature water (optional to add
squeezed fresh lemon) or green or herbal tea (e.g. mint, camomille); coffee
substitute like chicory (tastes similar to coffee) or yerba mate tea
(energizing effect)
- Beneficial fats: EFAplex oil (1 Tbsp per 50 lbs
body weight daily; may have to work up to this if digestion is weak by starting
with 1 tsp 2-3 times daily and gradually increasing)
- Sea veggies: hijiki, nori, kombu, etc.
- Legumes: aduki beans, mung beans (also detoxify
the body), black beans, kidney beans
- Soy sources of protein, emphasize fermented soy
products such as tempeh or miso
Herbs
There are many herbs known to help protect and
renew liver cells. They are generally
bitter herbs, including milk thistle, dandelion, and artichoke, and the Chinese
herbs chai hu and long dan cao. However,
TCM is always about balance and about choosing what is right for you. When you are cleansing the liver, you need to
make sure that you are properly eliminating the toxins and addressing other
strengths and weaknesses that are personal to you.
Exercise
Stretch, stretch, and stretch. And as it warms up, get outside and move and
find a beautiful place to breathe in fresh air.
Putting It All Together
Doing a full cleanse becomes easier when you do
it right. Whether you are green (i.e.
new) at cleansing or you are no spring chicken at it (i.e. experienced), I can
customize a treatment plan, herbal formula, and food cures strategy that will
optimize your spring detoxification.
Cleanse Acupuncture (2 weeks)--$290*
Includes (total value $340):
- Initial cleansing consultation (value $90)
- 2 Acupuncture sessions (value $140)
- Customized TCM foods cures for detoxification
- Customized TCM herbal prescription for detoxification (value $50)
- Supportive supplements (value $60)
Cleanse Sauna (2 weeks)--$250*
Includes (total value $300):
- Initial cleansing consultation (value $90)
- 4 half hour sauna sessions (value $100)
- Customized TCM food cures for detoxification
- Customized TCM herbal prescription for detoxification (value $50)
- Supportive supplements (value $60)
Cleanse Acupuncture & Sauna (2 weeks)--$350*
Includes (total value $440):
- Initial cleansing consultation (value $90)
- 2 Acupuncture sessions (value $140)
- 4 half hour sauna sessions (value $100)
- Customized TCM food cures for detoxification
- Customized TCM herbal prescription for detoxification (value $50)
- Supportive supplements (value $60)
* Offers end April 30, 2007
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