Spring Tonics & Tuneups

Happy March! Spring is practically upon us; it’s time to think about how to shake off your winter lethargy and get ready for the active season!

It’s no coincidence that so many leafy green vegetables are in season right now—kale, collards, mustard greens, chard, watercress—and dandelions!

These are all wonderful tonic foods to help clear out toxins that may have accumulated over the winter. Here are two YouTube videos that show how to identify, harvest and cook dandelions—both leaves and roots have enormous medicinal benefits!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eMwVa_jKoU – identifying, harvesting and cooking the roots in a stir-fry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UebH2Pb-18s – quick summary of health benefits, identifying and making pesto with leaves.

And moving beyond dandelions, here’s another healthful recipe using kale, winter squash and millet—a gluten-free grain that is especially easy to digest (Chinese medicine says it has “an affinity for the stomach”): http://www.ediblesoundbites.com/recipes/?recipe_id=6042113.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Spring is the time of the Wood element: growth, revitalization, leafing out. Wood corresponds to the Liver system in the body (not what we think of as the liver organ, but a whole interior array of channels and meridians).

The Liver system governs muscles, ligaments and tendons; the eyes; and the regular, rhythmic release of digestive enzymes, among other duties. And that's just the physical component.

In TCM, the Liver is the seat of the Hun, the “ethereal soul.” The ancient Chinese believed that the Hun is responsible for “visions, dreams and imagination and is the animating agent of all mental processes.” [from Five Spirits, by Lorie Eve Dechar, M.Ac.] When the Liver system is in balance, the Hun supports:

• restful sleep and healthy dreaming
• emotional balance
• decision-making and clear direction
• the capacity for justice
• imagination and creativity

Anger is the emotion that characterizes the Wood element. And anger is not necessarily a bad thing: often, anger is the response needed in a particular situation. Expressing anger positively and letting it go is the sign of healthy Wood / Liver. But in coping with the enormous amounts of stress we all face day to day, all too often we repress our anger, which can lead to depression, or suppress it until it blows up in dangerous, uncontrollable rage.

“Stuck” anger can be a time bomb, leading to all kinds of physiological disturbances from muscle spasms, headaches and seasonal allergies to insomnia, blurry vision and digestive problems.

Okay, then—how do we find that middle ground? How do we let anger “flow and go,” and bring ourselves back into balance?

Reiki and Reflexology are both ideal for helping you get your stress level under control.

Reiki harnesses universal energy to help you relax and get back in touch with your natural body rhythms. It can help alleviate:

•     Nervousness and anxiety
•     Insomnia
•     Headaches and migraines
•     Depression
•     Fear or excessive worry

and much, much more.

Similarly, Reflexology combines gentle stretching and compression to help reduce stress, improve circulation and move lymph—your body's natural detoxifier. Reflexology creates relaxation almost immediately. It improves blood flow to the feet, brain, kidneys and intestines (some of the places that absorb excessive stress). Reflexology, like Reiki, helps alleviate pain and headaches, depression and anxiety.

Because the feet (and hands) often reflect the tension level for the rest of the body, addressing stress in the feet helps reset the body's equilibrium (also known as homeostasis).

Reflexology has been shown to be effective for: 


• Reducing stress and inducing relaxation 

• Improving movement in both the circulatory and lymphatic systems 

• Removing toxins and impurities 

• Revitalizing energy 

• Strengthening the immune system
• 
Back pain 

• Migraine 

• Infertility 

• Arthritis
• 
Sleep disorders 

• Hormonal imbalances 

• Sports injuries 

• Digestive disorders

When I’m doing a reflexology session, I will know by the tension in your feet where I need to concentrate to bring relief. The effects of reflexology are cumulative: you may notice an overall reduction in tension and greater sense of well-being with regular treatments.

Both Reflexology and Reiki are excellent for moving "stuck energy" to help bring your body back into balance energetically. As you return to balance, this opens a window for self-healing.

Make an appointment for Reflexology, Reiki, or both today, and help get your body ready for Spring! Call 404-406-5204 or email reikidancing [at] gmail.com.