Spring Wellness + the Wood Element

Ahh, Spring- an expression of life at its strongest, and time for our energy reserves harnessed in the winter to be put into action.

The wood energy of the season wants to rise up, push through, and get things done. It’s active and energetic, and supports vision, creativity, and leadership. This is the time of year we would work on any blockages so we can have access to all that great energy. After all, the themes of the season are growth, rebirth, and renewal.

But what happens when this energy that allows for movement and progress- both internally and externally- is thwarted or constrained?

With the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-home, stay-safe orders, we are living in uniquely challenging times right now. And most likely, many of us are experiencing an imbalance in the wood element because that rising energy can’t express itself the right way.

The result is QI STAGNATION and it feels like anger and irritability, depression, mood swings, migraines, pain, tension and tightness (especially in the neck, shoulders, and sides of the body), PMS and worsening cramps, excessive sighing, and indigestion. For the creative types- you may be experiencing “writer’s block” or lack of direction/ vision/ focus.

In Chinese Medicine theory, the wood element belongs to the spring season and its related meridian system pair is the Liver and Gall Bladder. Together, these organs are responsible for the smooth flow of qi and blood in the body and regulates emotions. They are our “first responder” channels to the stresses in our lives. The wood element teaches us about flexibility and adaptability.

The teachings and practices of Chinese Medicine can support the body, mind and spirit in the midst of change. Now is the time to focus on balancing the wood element and the Liver/Gall Bladder organ system in order to help our body respond in a healthy way to stress and change.

Here are some easy self-care tips to practice at home:

GET MOVING. Moving that stuck energy can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths (Liver and Gall Bladder energy can get stuck at the diaphragm), going for a walk (the type of exercise associated with the wood element), or stretching (the tendons and sinews are ruled by the Liver and Gall Bladder meridian systems).

Pay particular attention to the sides of your body, the IT band, the ribs, your jaw, your hips, your shoulders… areas where the Liver and Gall Bladder channel run. If these areas are feeling particularly tight, focus your breaths and release work to those stuck spaces. Triangle pose, side stretches, psoas releases, and gentle twists are good options. 

USE ESSENTIAL OILS. Lavender, peppermint, chamomile, lemon, and bergamot essential oils move Qi in the liver and gall bladder channels. Wood oils like sandalwood and vetiver are especially nourishing and grounding. Use in a diffuser, apply topically (be sure to dilute your oils if using on the skin), apply a drop under your nose, or steam in the shower.

FOCUS ON FOOD THERAPY. Similarly, lemon water and peppermint or chamomile tea will help move stagnation in the Liver/Gall Bladder channels. The wood element likes sour food (like kimchi and yogurt) as well as light meals with lots of greens (the color of the wood element). Bitter greens (dandelion, nettles, and arugula ) are particularly cleansing for the liver and gallbladder and promote better digestion. These food choices compliment the ascending, regenerative qualities of spring and keep the liver and gall bladder clear and healthy.

Note: Too many rich, heavy, greasy foods congest this organ pair and impair their ability to effectively circulate qi and blood. This congestion is referred to as “damp-heat accumulation” (think: gallstones, high cholesterol, plaque in the arteries, or inflammation). 

GET YOUR ZZZ’s. The wood element loves movement, but this movement won’t feel great if we’re not getting enough sleep. Sleep is an essential time for replenishment and for the liver to recover from the stresses of the day.

LEARN ACUPRESSURE. Using acupressure is a great way to get qi moving and support your general wellbeing. A powerful combination to move qi everywhere in the body is known as “The 4 Gates” and uses acupuncture points Large Intestine 4 (LI-4) and Liver 3 (Lr-3). Note: do not use this combination during pregnancy.

• LI-4: located between the thumb and pointer finger, LI-4 is THE point to treat colds and flu, and boosts the body’s defenses against recurrence. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory point, relieves pain (especially in the head and face), and has a calming/analgesic effect.

• LR-3: located between the big toe and second toe, Lr-3 an essential point to move Qi and keep energy flowing, especially during stressful times. This point releases both physical and emotion tension to reduce stress, anger, and depression, blood pressure, pain, and menstrual cramps.

(related article: “7 Acupressure Points for Stress Relief” and “5 Acupressure Points for Immune Support”).

TRY HERBAL MEDICINE. You can also try Chinese herbal medicine! A favorite formula for moving qi, relaxing the Liver, and nourishing blood is Xiao Yao Wan, “Free and Easy Wanderer”. Contact your acupuncturist to see if this formula is right for you!

Acupuncture 101: The Basics

Acupuncture is a holistic medical practice that originated in China over 3,000 years ago. It uses sterile, hair-thin needles to stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.

The medicine is based on the understanding that health is achieved through balance. Symptoms like indigestion, headaches, or irritability indicate something is a little out of wack: there’s an imbalance in the body that needs to be addressed.

As your acupuncturist, our job is to determine the specific pattern of imbalance causing your symptoms and get to the root of the issue. When we treat the root we can address a wide range of symptoms and many seemingly "unconnected" issues in a single treatment!

Qi (pronounced “chee”) is translated as “vital energy” or “life force”, and is the most important concept in Chinese Medicine. Qi is the basis of all phenomena in our universe. In our body, Qi is both form and function; refined energy and functional activity. The primary goal of acupuncture is to move and balance qi in the body to restore harmony and promote health.

Qi circulates along a meridian system. The meridians are like a giant web, linking different parts of the body together. Every organ has its own meridian system that traverses a certain area of the body.

The flow of Qi in the meridians concentrate at certain areas- these are the acupuncture points. When everything circulates properly, we don’t feel it, and we are balanced and strong. But when it gets blocked or becomes deficient, it causes pain, dysfunction, depression and disease.

When needled, acupuncture points can regulate the way in which the body functions, improving basic life functions like sleep and digestion, bringing us back to homeostasis.

Acupuncture has been repeatedly proven to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain and increase blood circulation.  From a Western medical view, acupuncture points are sites to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. This stimulation boosts the body’s natural pain killers and feel-good chemicals like endorphins.

Acupuncture can correct minor imbalances before they become chronic or pathological. You don’t have to have something that needs to be “fixed” in order to get acupuncture! While acupuncture excels at treating symptoms, it’s an amazing ally for preventative health. If you have no “symptoms” and want to stay that way, you’re an ideal candidate for acupuncture!

Treatments are relaxing, restorative, and nourishing. Even first-time clients with needle fear are surprised by how quickly they feel relaxed! Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and virtually painless. A slight ache or pinch will quickly dissipate. There may be a pulling sensation called “de qi” (“grabbing of the qi”), which many clients like to feel (“it’s working!”).

Today, the benefits of acupuncture are recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which lists the following symptoms, diseases, and conditions to be treated effectively by acupuncture. (Amazingly, Chinese Medicine works on physical, emotional and mental levels, offering a full spectrum of healing.)

Musculo-Skeletal: arthritis, back pain, neck pain, muscle pain, muscle weakness, muscle cramping, sciatica

Digestive: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion

Gynecological: premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms, infertility

Emotional: anxiety, depression, insomnia, nervousness, neurosis

Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat: cataracts, poor vision, toothache, gingivitis, tinnitus

Respiratory: asthma, bronchitis, common cold, sinusitis, smoking cessation, tonsillitis

Neurological: headaches, migraines, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, Parkinson’s Disease, post-operative pain, stroke

Miscellaneous: addiction control, athletic performance, blood pressure regulation, chronic fatigue, immune system toning, stress reduction

It's All Connected: The Amazing Meridians

It may seem strange, at first, that when you get an acupuncture treatment for a backache we needle a point behind your knees, for a toothache we needle a point on your hand, or for gall bladder stones we needle a point on your foot.  

What makes it possible for points on the wrist to treat pain in the chest, or,  points on the back to treat the brain and mood disorders is a distribution network in the body called meridian systems. 

The meridians are like a giant web, circulating qi and blood throughout the body and linking different parts of the body together. 

Every organ has its own meridian, or channel, that traverses a certain area of the body. The flow of Qi in the meridians concentrate at certain areas- these are the acupuncture points. When needled, acupuncture points can regulate the way in which the body functions and has been shown to effect the electrical and nervous systems of the body, impact neurotransmitters, and reduce substance P (which is responsible for the sensation of pain).  

There are hundreds of acupuncture points located all over the body, from head to toe. How do we choose which points to use? 

Based on a person’s health history, chief complaint, tongue and pulse diagnosis (that’s a big, fascinating topic for another time!), and channel palpation (pressing along the channels to find areas of tenderness or pain), we establish a Chinese medical diagnosis and select a unique group of points that work together to treat the patient’s symptoms and their underlying cause. 

This is why acupuncture is a “root and branch medicine”. 

A treatment plan for a migraine may include points that stop pain and reduce tension (the symptoms, or "branch"), in addition to points that target the underlying pattern of imbalance, or root cause, such as Liver Qi stagnation. A treatment plan for allergies may use points to open the sinuses and stop sneezing (the branch) and strengthen deficient Lung Qi (the root). 

We consider which channels and organ systems are affected, and often chose local and distal points as part of your treatment plan. 

Remember: every part of your body is connected by the meridian system! 

Locally, acupuncture points can move qi and blood, stop pain, increase circulation and decrease inflammation at the site of injury or disease. Distal points will open the affected channels to move pain out, encourage circulation along the entire channel, and strengthen channel deficiencies.

The Gall Bladder meridian, for example, descends from the head and temples to the ribcage and hips, and then travels down the legs to the fourth toe. Needling Gall Bladder points on the feet can treat issues at the opposite end of the channel, like head aches, gall bladder disease, and rib pain. 

Each point has its own special action on the body, and each point works at both a physical, mental, and spiritual level. 

The location of the point, its associated organ system and meridian, and even its name indicates what that point can do. Acupuncture point Pericardium 6 (PC-6), is a point along the pericardium channel which begins at the middle finger, travels up the arm and ends at the center of the chest.

Anatomically, the pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart. In Chinese Medicine theory, the pericardium is called “the heart protector”. The name of this particular point, “Inner Gate”, refers to how the heart regulates its boundaries: what gets let in, what gets let out. The point functions to open the chest, stop chest pain, circulate heart qi and blood, and calm anxiety. It’s location over the median nerve at the wrist makes it a great point to treat carpel tunnel syndrome and other arm and wrist issues.

Acupuncture allows us to access our health and wellness from a holistic perspective. It acknowledges that everything is connected, and that it is possible to address multiple issues with one singular treatment!