Are You Feeling the Spring Fever Positive Vibes?
It feels like Spring just started in Sonoma County even though technically we only have about another month (summer starts on June 20 in the northern hemisphere). I know that Spring in Sonoma county IS warm…then cold, then warm…and then cold AGAIN, which can make the transition feel a bit rocky. Plus in our busy world we often don’t take the time to hibernate in winter as well as nature does. So around this time each year patients start coming in feeling frustrated, irritable, or in a low mood wondering why they aren’t feeling the Spring fever positive vibes.
Spring is Liver season in Chinese medicine—the time to refresh, restore, and get energy moving again after winter’s deep rest. The Liver governs smooth Qi flow, blood circulation, and detoxification; supports healthy tendons and ligaments; and is in charge of the smooth flow of emotions, creativity, and fresh thinking!
Here’s my top 3 tips to get the Spring back in your step by supporting the Liver to nourish blood, improve circulation, help the body clear out what it no longer needs, and keep emotions flowing:
- Eat Foods That Support The Liver: leafy greens, beets, sour foods (lemons, sauerkraut, fermented pickles), pungent foods (garlic, green onions), turmeric, and berries. Start your morning with warm lemon water. Eat a big leafy green salad with beets and dressing with garlic and green onions. Enjoy a cup of turmeric tea–my favorite is Tulsi brand Turmeric Ginger tea. Snack on berries–have you been to one of the local strawberry stands yet? Add sauerkraut and pickles as a side to the whatever you grilled on the BBQ.
- Move More (It’s Ok To Start Gently): It’s time to stretch, walk, breath in fresh air. Stretching in the morning as you start your day to wake up your body can help you check in with your body and notice where you are holding tension and let it go. A walk after dinner sounds refreshing as the light lasts longer. Dancing, often in the kitchen, is one of my favorite ways to keep my energy and emotions from getting stuck.
- Cultivate Compassion–Start With Yourself First: In Chinese medicine, the Liver is deeply connected to emotional flow. When the Liver is healthy, we feel flexible, adaptable, and able to move through challenges with ease. When it’s stagnant, we can get frustrated, impatient, or overly critical of ourselves. Self-Kindness is the antidote to this kind of stagnation. Breaking the pattern of being hard on yourself will soften tension, reduce stress and inflammation, and open the door for fresh thinking and change. Giving yourself a little grace isn’t just enjoyable, it also allows space for insight and real change.
Spring is a season of renewal, movement, and flow and in Chinese medicine it’s a great time to support the Liver, clear out stagnation, and embrace fresh energy. There are so many ways to do this so what is the most important one? Keep it simple. Commit to one thing. And do it consistently. Self care doesn’t have to be complicated to work. Small, steady actions create the biggest shifts. Simple is powerful. You don’t need a massive detox, a brand-new workout routine, or a complicated plan. Just commit to doing one thing every day to help your Liver keep things flowing and let that be enough.
We’d love to help you get the Spring back in your step! If you want support with the transition to Spring–especially if you wake up dragging and wondering when you’re going to start feeling the Spring fever positive vibes–schedule an appointment through our online booking system or get in touch via phone or email. Acupuncture is the fastest deepest way I know to regulate the nervous system and get us back into the flow. And I’ll be honest that our modern lifestyle is so hard on the Liver that at least 50% of the custom formulas I prescribe have herbs to support the Liver and all it does for us!
Welcome Our New Office Manager Darien
Please welcome our new Office Manager, Darien Gostas, to the Thrive Acupuncture and Wellness team! I am very excited to have him join us because he comes to us with a wealth of valuable management and care experience gained from his years working in memory care facilities for the elderly.
Darien says he’s excited about transitioning to a different facet of healthcare and is eager to apply his skills, which include team leadership and management at a Director level, within our practice. Those who have already met Darien have said they appreciate his warm and welcoming demeanor. He also brings a keen focus on streamlining processes to enhance our behind-the-scenes operations. In addition to his professional skills, Darien is known for his creativity and a great sense of humor, which are already contributed positively to the qi in our office!
Please give him a warm welcome and introduce yourself the next time you’re in the office.
What We’re Treating In The Clinic
Allergies–they are a little late and extra windy this year!
While May is the height of allergy season for a lot of people in SOCO, it’s hitting a little bit later this year and symptoms are a little confusing. This is because on top of the usual pollen, this year we also have a lot of wind. In Chinese Medicine we call this wind invasion and it can make symptoms travel, go deeper, cause more pain and stiffness, amp up the drippiness, effect the skin, or make us feel hot and bothered. So you’ve been having a lingering thing and you can’t figure out why (cough, eye irritation, skin sensitivity, headache, etc) consider that it might be allergies.
I’ve always had a special interest in treating allergies. I found Chinese Medicine because of my chronic sinus issues and poor immune system. With a lifetime of curiosity and over 18 years of treating them as an acupuncturist and herbalist, I can say I’m ready to help even the weird allergies!
I practice a style of acupuncture that is renowned for quick relief for allergy symptoms. The best time to treat allergies for prevention is 3 months before they start. But let’s be honest–most patients come in when their symptoms are at their worst so I’m used to starting the treatment from that place. And by quick relief I mean that patients normally feel relief on the table as soon as some of the points are placed. I love it when I come back after a patient’s 30 minutes acu nap and they tell me they can feel their sinuses, throat, and lungs opened up.
I highly recommend Chinese Herbal Medicine for treating allergies right now since we are in peak allergy season. After one apt you get a weeks worth of a potent custom formula that you take twice a day for symptom relief and to stop your body’s immune system from overreacting. It’s the best use of your time and money when you consider what it would take to get acupuncture twice a day. Sometimes I treat allergies with just herbal medicine, it’s that effective.
We also recommend xlear nasal spray. We carry it in the clinic but you can pick it up just about anywhere they have a pharmacy section. 2 Sprays in the nostrils, wait a bit, then blow your nose. It cleans things out, soothes the membranes, and helps make your nose a better first line of defense against pollens.
If you want support treating your allergies, make an appointment through our online booking site or get in touch. We’d love to help you get through the rest of allergy season so you can enjoy Spring!
Here’s to Happy Spring and Soothing Liver Vibes!
Christina and Team Thrive
P.S. Please share this with anyone you think could benefit from any of this info.
