It’s spring, so why am I so agitated?
Welcome to Spring! With the longer days and increasing sunshine, we expect to feel happier and more energetic. But for some, along with that, can come symptoms of what acupuncturists call "Liver Qi Stagnation." Over the next few blogs I’m going to explain to you why this happens and what you can do about it. For today though, let’s dive into a bit of nerdy theory so you understand what liver qi stagnation is and how it’s potentially making you a bit irritable.
Before we begin it’s important to understand that when an acupuncturist talks about your organs, they do not mean your actual organ. If we say you have a Liver imbalance, nothing is wrong with your liver. This is a common fear and I want to address it so as not to perpetuate it. What we’re referring to is energetic in nature. It’s the way we name the paths (officially termed meridians) in your body, akin to naming a road.
Each season has an element and organ associated with it. Spring, associated with Wood and the Liver/Gallbladder meridians, is responsible for growth and renewal. Just like in nature, spring is the time of year that our energy begins to rise out of hibernation and move outward. This is what helps us be more active and energetic.
But, for those of us with imbalances in our Liver energy, this can be the time of year where Liver symptoms flare. Symptoms such as migraine headaches, hay fever, vertigo, and PMS can all get worse. You may also notice yourself feeling a little more short tempered than usual or having sudden bursts of anger.
However, the flip side is that when your Liver/Gallbladder meridians are in harmony, you can accomplish amazing things. This is because your Liver is your “planner” organ and the gallbladder is your “decision maker”. When in good working order they allow you the clarity to make clear goals and the courage to enact them.
Liver/Gallbladder imbalances are one of the most commonly treated conditions. Given that, I’m going to break up my advice into several blogs to ensure everyone has a happy and productive spring. For the impatient among us who want to start now, sneak peak at tip # 1 - increase your movement