Spring and Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Chinese Medicine, spring is associated with the wood element and the color green. In our bodies the wood element relates to the liver and gallbladder. If our liver is strained or out of balance, we may experience symptoms relating to the liver:

• anger
• headaches
• dizziness
• aches and pains
• digestive complaints
• menstrual complaints
• insomnia
• depression
• mood swings
• jaundice
• hepatitis
• a feeling of "stuck-ness", not moving forward with life goals
• a groggy feeling in the morning

Acupuncture at the Birch Center is a wonderful way to balance the liver energy. There are powerful points such as Liver 3 on the foot and Liver 8 near the knee which move and smooth the energy of the body. Gall bladder points on the back of the head and neck can ease headaches and help us sleep more soundly.

There is also a wonderful point combination: Liver 3 on the foot and Large Intestine 4 on the hand, which when paired are called The Four Gates. This treatment gently yet powerfully allows the energy in the entire body to flow freely. 

Herbs such as dandelion, burdock, milk thistle and motherwort can also work on balancing the liver and often grow wild all around the United States. (For more information on Wild Edible Plants, visit our sister site Food Under Foot.)

The spring has a lot of wonderful energy too: growth, creativity, movement!

Spring is an excellent time to come in for acupuncture. Acupuncture helps keeps us strong and balanced, especially during the change of seasons when we are most vulnerable to finding ourselves off balance, run down, and coming down with something. If you'd like to schedule an acupuncture treatment, please give us a call at (412) 381-0116.

Happy Spring!

~ David and Melissa Sokulski
licensed acupuncturists

Spring!

Last year's crabapple with this year's new leaves.

Spring is here! 

Today was the first true warm sunny day of spring. In Chinese Medicine spring relates to the wood element and the color green. All around we see green appearing over the earth, bringing the creativity and growth of the season.

Motherwort or Leonurus cardiaca, an herb which can be found in the wild, used in both western and Chinese medicine to treat stress, anxiety, insomnia, nervous irritablity and heart palpitations.

If the energies of creativity and growth are blocked, anger can result. When wood energy stagnates in the body, symptoms such as anger, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, PMS, and emotional instability can result.

Acupuncture can help the wood energy flow smoothly in the body. Often a combination of the points Liver 3 on the foot and Large Intestine 4 on the hand (which together are called The Four Gates) is used to help energy flow smoothly through the body.

The start of a new season can sometimes bring stress to the body, and is a great time to come in for an acupuncture "tune-up." 

Enjoy the spring!

~ Melissa and David Sokulski

licensed acupuncturists