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When your liver can’t see the wood for the trees it might be time for a “spring clean” | TCM 5-Element Natural Inspirations for health

Each Season of the year offers a personal health profile with Traditional Chinese Medicine Philosophy (TCM), a particular wellness focus period if you like. Spring is Liver and Gall Bladder’s TCM ‘ Wood’ season’ and it’s a good time to be ‘Liver Health Aware’. 

The Liver is responsible for the storing of blood and together with the Gall Bladder this Spring ‘couple’ are responsible for the flow of chi (energy) and the smooth integration of all the body’s systems.

For most of us, states of health and wellbeing are not always smooth; they ebb and flow to varying degrees depending on our circumstances and the amount of stress we are experiencing.  Stress seems to perform in peaks and troughs; a little can be motivational of course but stress becomes a pernicious ‘task master’: incrementally creeping up on us over time, so that eventually we find the body ‘in-balance’ becomes the body ‘out of balance’.

Out of balance represents dis-harmony and dis-ease between our thoughts, feelings and physical states. For example, symptoms of environmental or emotional stress might manifest as tight muscles due to tension, insomnia due to worry, eye strain or headaches due to continuous screen gazing, inability to make decisions, dizziness, sudden outbursts of anger, poor perspectives and ‘not seeing the wood for the trees’.

The beauty of working with TCM 5-Elements is that they point us to the inseparable emotional and physical links behind the presenting symptom. As demonstrated by the above which are classic examples of Liver & Gall Bladder energetic imbalances.

The Liver is known as ‘The General of the Body’ and it stands to reason that the Gall Bladder is the ‘General’s assistance’.  This pairing, assuredly, plays an important role not just in Spring time but in year-round body maintenance.

Our bodies speak to us but do we listen? TCM doesn’t like shock tactics – moderation is a byword – slowly decrease, slowly increase applies. When we are ‘under stress’ it is not advisable to embark on anything extreme like a strict new diet or a full-on detox. Why? Because aspects of ourselves are already under ‘heavyweight’ pressure and don’t need more!  Physical stress on top of emotional stress only invites further stress symptoms e.g. fatigue, headaches, aching muscles and lethargy.  Just as one can’t instantly go from no exercise to a marathon or mountain climb, so it is with a detox regimen.

Some TLC practical advice from TCM philosophy!  Detoxing can be quite challenging for the body: from the TCM Element’s perspective, the key toxin ‘eliminators’ are Lungs, Large Intestines, Skin (Metal Chi), Liver (Wood Chi) Kidneys, Bladder (Water Chi).  All of these organs need kindly consideration when embarking on a body ‘spring clean’.  Activities such as body brushing, saunas, keeping hydrated, gentle exercise like yoga and eating lots of fruit and vegetables to encourage regular bowel movements are supportive.

Spring chi for the Wood Element, Liver/Gall Bladder, is fresh, green, buoyant, yang –  expansive energy after the ‘hibernation’ state of Winter.  So, if you are not currently experiencing high levels of stress, if you can see the wood for the trees, now is a good time of year to embark on a gentle mental or physical cleanse.  (If you are stressed, postpone!). Of course, if you are concerned about any health issues or have a specific dietary condition, please, always check with your doctor first.

My TCM meridian based therapies support emotional energy and work with the body, not against it > the focus is on encouraging a ‘letting go’ so stress and tension can gently and steadily be released and a state replenishment restored.

Louise gives talks on the 5-Elements and runs CPD Approved Workshops and Master Classes on the subject. To find out more about TCM 5-Element relationships please contact louise@reflexologyplus-london.co.uk

Louise Exeter AMT, CNHC, MAR

All text and illustrations © Louise Exeter March 2017

Mind, body, spirit: everything works together for the benefit of the whole. Louise Exeter:            5-Element meridian reflexologist, E.F.T. energy therapist, wellbeing and soul-goal coach,        angel intuitive practitioner www.reflexologyplus-chilondon.co.uk   www.heavensway.co.uk

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An alarm call to Spring from your Liver! | TCM 5-Element Natural Inspirations for health

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]liver[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Dawn Chorus vs TCM body clock.

There is a rhythm and flow to life and we are part of it”. (Louise Hay).  In TCM terms (Traditional Chinese Medicine Philosophy), Spring is the Liver’s optimal time.  My previous blog

‘Liver: Spring’s antidote to Stress’ referred to the seasonality of body energy and health correlations, particularly for the Liver.  Each of the 5 Phases (commonly referred to as the 5 ‘Elements’) influences specific body organs and systems in various ways regarding physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, health and well-being. We are all part of the natural rhythms of the natural world. Birth, life, death, health and wellbeing in TCM 5 Element terms are reflected by a series of cycles – daily, monthly, yearly, seasonally and so on… from the macro down to the micro.

Growth & Transformation: With TCM the Liver relates to personal growth and the ability to transform – qualities shared with the early seasonal emergence of flowers that delight our senses with their delicate presence, announcing the arrival of Spring. They naturally  embrace the TCM season’s qualities: outward, expansive, ‘Wood Chi’ (energy).

Snowdrop aspirations:  To ascribe human qualities to the ‘Wood Element’ – inspired by the beautiful snowdrop’s example of achievement – the transition from bulb to flower – we would have to: (1) transform our personal ambitions germinated during the Yin Winter, ‘Water’ (Kidney/Bladder) Phase; (2) produce a thoroughly researched programme demonstrating achievement is possible; (3) strategically consider where and when is the best time and place to emerge against challenging odds (4) hope that success will bring pleasure and joy (Summer ‘Fire’ Heart/Small Intestine emotion) to others.  In summation, positive TCM ‘Wood’ qualities of resolution, drive, successful accomplishment.

What time is it?   In balance, those endowed with the ‘Constitutional’ characteristics of the Wood Element generously enjoy using their skills for strategic planning and implementation. On the other hand, being thwarted at every turn, unappreciated and too stressed for too long will inhibit their energy and suppress their commitment . Signature stress clues of Liver/Gall Bladder chi imbalance are: irritability, sudden outbursts of anger (think of Spring’s March winds), resentment or frustration.  By way of compensation, stressed ‘Woodies’ can become over-controlling and inflexible (mentally or physically), losing their far-sightedness ability –  classically, not being able to see the wood for the trees!

Dawn Chorus vs Liver’s Alarm Clock: Restlessness, dream-disturbed sleep, insomnia and excessive waking during the night between 1.00 a.m.– 3.00 a.m. are other key (Liver-stress) indicators which, of course, further undermines daily performance, perspectives and relationships for the out of kilter Wood Element.  Such night time ‘disruption’ is the body’s rhythmical message to us, a notification that it’s time to detox and de-stress (physically, mentally, emotionally); time to rebalance the subtle energies, with a yin for yang treatment approach and not to over-stimulate with like on like i.e. yang for yang!

Body Clocks: The TCM 24-hour Body Clock acknowledges the holistic requirements for consistent performance: to balance work, rest and play through recuperation and restoration. Each organ chi has a peak and rest period, allowing for tissue repair, growth and elimination – a circadian rhythm representative for the biological processes involved for energy and life purpose.  In the 24 hour cycle, the Liver’s peak time is between 1.00 a.m.–3.00 a.m. and rest time between 1.00 p.m.–3.00 p.m. (not a time, therefore, to over-stimulate this organ chi during a treatment!).

Time Management: Clear the mind, clear the body! The benefits of setting a calming bedtime routine, for example, a comforting bath, lavender on the pillow, chamomile tea, brief meditation, positive reading, no last minute techy stuff etc., can be comfortingly supportive.  In addition a kinder, less detrimental, nutritional attitude (dump the junk!) will help the body combat the effects of stress on the system e.g. erratic energy levels and mood swings. Start this in Spring and see how you feel by Summer.

There’s no time like the present: 
When night becomes day, the pressures pile and the Chi excessively ‘peaks’ in the early hours that’s exactly the time to buffer the effects of stress.  Investing in a series of gentle recuperative reflexology sessions can diffuse the effects of over-stimulation and – through multi-system relaxation – help with regaining a good night’s sleep.  Sometimes by doing less you will accomplish more!

NB: chronic lack of sleep can lead to other health issues so always consult with your physician about such matters.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]AOR logoThe therapist is the conductor of the 5-Element orchestra: To Fine Tune for more TCM Good Vibrations with Reflexology Plus the Meridian Way™, Louise runs Wellness Links in Chi© CPD Approved Master Classes and Workshops. http://www.reflexologyplus-therapies.co.uk/good-vibes-classes/

The meridian wayLouise Exeter AMT, CNHC, MAR
All text and illustrations © Louise Exeter April 2015[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]liver2

All text and illustrations Copyright Louise Exeter              May 2015

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The Liver: Spring’s antidote to Stress! | TCM 5-Element Natural Inspirations for health

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]123RF fish26407511_xl[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The Liver: Spring’s antidote to Stress! ©

Which stress direction is your client heading for today?

Can’t See the Wood for the Trees?

Then it’s time to re-set their compass to Spring!  

With TCM Philosophy, each season correlates energetically with the internal organs and systems of the body. For example, the yin periods of Autumn and Winter correlate to Lung and Large Intestine and to Kidney and Bladder respectively.

Go for Green!

Spring falls under the Wood Element, it’s the peak season for the Liver and Gall Bladder: a time for outward, expansive, energy.  For inspiration, just look at the fresh green leaves and buds enthusiastically bursting out into flower.  No wonder green is the colour applied to this Element.

Spring represents a great time for accomplishment, for drawing upon Liver and Gall Bladder’s energetic properties for decisiveness, planning and implementation of dreams and ambitions.

Spring Roles!

With TCM 5-Element Philosophy, the Liver is known as “The General of the Body”: responsible for the storage and movement of blood, for the smooth co-operation and integration of the body’s organs and systems and for the flow of chi throughout. Formation of harmonious ‘movement’

between everything (physically and emotionally) characterises this ‘General’s’ efficiency.  Metaphorically speaking, as an overseer, the Liver is happiest when in control!

This might also apply to people whose primary or ‘constitutional’ element falls under the wood phase.   If you want something done…ask a Wood person!

Control for the right reasons!

Dependable ‘Woods’ have the ability to lead and inspire. It gives them pleasure and satisfaction to help others implement ideas germinated, say, during Winter’s yin ‘Water’ (kidney/Bladder) season (a time for sowing the seeds of contemplation) or to kindle the flames of Summer’s Fire Element passions (Heart, Sm. Intestine, Pericardium and Triple Burner). To this end, ‘Woods’ like to take charge, to be in control – when in balance, it’s direction and accomplishment all for the right reasons.

Uptight, it’s not all right!

For the Wood Element, clear indicators of over-stress manifest in indecisiveness…frustration…intolerance…anger… rigidity (physical or mental)! These are stress-imbalance clues that poor ‘Woodies’ have taken on too much for too long and consequently, ‘lost sight of the wood for the trees’!  Other stress clues might be symptoms such as muscle cramps, contractions in the tendons, blurred vision, problematic menstruation issues, anaemia.

Be 5-Element aware though: no two symptoms present for exactly the same reason – each client will have their unique TCM 5-Element and meridian story to tell.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]Spring[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Spring: Good Timing for Body Awareness

Within the co-operative of the 5-Elements, The Liver has an important influence on personal levels of energy and maintaining the good behaviour of its ‘troops’ (the organs)!

As Spring is Liver & Gall Bladder’s ‘season’ it’s a particularly good time to encourage clients to responsibly become liver health aware. You have an ideal TCM 5 Element rational to proffer! Give the Liver a Spring Holiday:  down with accumulated toxins which lower energy levels, up with ‘greens’ in the diet and out for exercise and fresh air to boost energy – and perhaps a bit more reflexology for replenishment and stress reduction!

Circadian Rhythms

Interestingly, too, if your client appointments fall between 1.00pm – 3.00pm go easy because according to the 24 hour ‘Chinese Clock’, this is the Liver’s rest time. [Likewise, 11.00am – 1.00pm for the Gall Bladder]

Liverish All-Sorts!

It is important to note we are all a unique mix of the nuances of the 5-Elements and their integrated subtleties. At different ages, stages and circumstances in our lives, different 5-Element influences may wax and wane. Fundamentally, though, there will be one primary ‘constitutional’ element that predisposes us to particular patterns of behaviour, emotions and health. Recognizing this in our selves and in our clients, amplifies treatment resonance and personal intuition and underpins classic meridian therapy, gifted to us by the wisdom of the Far East.

Fine Tune to feel the rhythm!

With TCM 5-Element Philosophy, The 5-Elements and Meridians are two sides of the same coin, co-existing to serve because we are physical, emotional, mental, spiritual – united.

Increasing stress levels have a negative ripple effect, throwing 5-Element harmonies out of kilter; changing the integrity of their finely balanced relationships.  Eunice Ingham, ‘Mother’ of modern-day Reflexology’, wisely advised about “the necessity of keeping our whole body in motion, every part in perfect rhythm”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]AOR logoThe therapist is the conductor of the 5-Element orchestra: To Fine Tune for more TCM Good Vibrations with Reflexology Plus the Meridian Way™, Louise runs Wellness Links in Chi© CPD Approved Master Classes and Workshops. http://www.reflexologyplus-therapies.co.uk/good-vibes-classes/

The meridian wayLouise Exeter AMT, CNHC, MAR
All text and illustrations © Louise Exeter April 2015[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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