Spring Winds

Warning: we’ll be talking about bodily functions in this post!

In Chinese Medicine, spring is the season of the Liver. The Liver’s element is wood,
and its weather is wind, which generates images of capricious spring breezes making
the tree boughs shiver and rustle against the windows.

Western physiology has now identified FIVE HUNDRED functions that our livers do for
us. That’s a lot of work! One of these functions is to filter toxins and by-products out of
the blood – much like the fuel filter in our cars. It’s easy to see how our livers can get
overloaded if there are too many toxic substances getting poured into our systems via
pesticides, food additives, skincare products, medications, inhaled pollutants, etc.

Once our “fuel filters” are clogged in this way, it’s harder for the liver to carry out its other
499 functions. Most often we see this in the clinic with the effects of poor bile production.
If you’ve ever changed the oil in your car, you know that the new oil that comes out of
the can is a transparent liquid, whereas the old oil coming out of the oil pan is thick and
dark. So too does your bile turn thick when your liver hasn’t had time for an oil change!

Without nice, fluid bile, we have none of the “soap” that helps us break down the fats in
our diet. We rely on healthy fat intake and breakdown for brain health, hormone
production, digestive flow, proper bowel movements, skin moisture, and many other
functions. So, poor bile = many troubles.

THAT is why we use the 21-Day Cleanse program so often for our patients – to keep
this whole cascade of events running smoothly, starting with liver health.

*******

Lest we get bogged down with things to fix and what can go wrong with our lovely livers,
we can also keep in mind the wonderful pliability of Liver energy as Chinese medicine
sees it. The wood element is flexible, amenable to growth and change. The liver is the
only one of our organs that can regenerate itself. Thus, we can celebrate our own
flexibility, and appreciate our ability to weather the dynamic winds of change. That, after
all, is one of the best aspects of the human spirit.

This blog was written by a human being.