Your Heart: Fire, Summer, Red & Joy"The heart is the king of all organs, but true cardiovascular health is not just about physical fitness, it's about true contentment with your life. Happiness, joy and love are associated with the heart, and in TCM this is because it houses the Shen, our Spirit and in turn creates a state of peacefulness in the body. The heart also controls the blood within our bodies; stress, sadness and anxiety are all caused by lack of blood nourishment to the heart, directly impacting its function."
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How to look after your heart"Smiling is the best medication for your heart. It simulates the organ and brings a sense internal peace. Feel gratitude towards yourself, smile at the people around you, and smile for yourself to bring you joy, happiness and health!"
Your Spleen: Earth, Late Summer, Yellow & Sympathy"The Stomach & Spleen are our body's digestion, but it is not only responsible for digestion foods. In TCM, these organs also digest your emotions and thoughts, keeping hold of what makes you happy and healthy, and ridding the body of what doesn't. Chronic worry, anxiety and overthinking weakens the spleen so it is vital to let go and focus on you. We believe that just as Mother Earth's job is to nurture growth and living creates, our digestion is the key to overall health. If you are tired, weak, or have regular sweet cravings, this is a sign that your stomach and spleen are out of sync. Heal your body by feeding it naturally sweet and warming foods."
How to look after your spleen"Opt for cooked, warm foods and beverages - your digestion is warmth loving by nature, so eating cold, raw foods and drinks can damage the spleen and digestion functions over time. Yellow and orange grains and vegetables are extremely energy boosting, too.
Your Lungs: Metal, Autumn, White & Grief"The lungs' major functions include maintaining a strong immune defence. Its associated season is Autumn so if you tend to catch cold or have allergies in fall, ensure that you take care of your lungs and its associated TCM tissues and organs. The nose is the lung's sensory; a runny nose, sneezing, congested sinuses or loss of smell indicate that there is an imbalance in your lung's function. The associated tissues to your lungs is the skin, so if your want to have healthy, glowing skin, you have to take care of the lungs and its partner organ the Large Intestine.
Emotionally and physically, the Lungs are responsible for letting go, from life experiences and loss, to actual metabolic by-products."
How to look after your lungs: "In TCM, one of the main functions of the lungs are to protect you from pathogens like cold and flus. Save lung energy by wrapping up warm in windy, cold weather, especially covering the chest and neck."
Your Kidneys: Water, Winter, Black & Fear
"The kidneys are the "reserve generator" of the energy in the body. Storing "pre-natal QI" inherited from your parents and supplying essential QI to any organ running low on QI throughout life. In TCM, the season associated with your kidneys is Winter, and this is because it's most important to conserve your energy and rest to avoid burn out, fatigue and using your "reserve generator". The kidneys also rule over your ears and bones, therefore any ear problems such as deafness, tinnitus or osteoporosis are signs that the Kidneys energy need extra support.
The associated emotion of the Kidney's is fear, therefore if you are becoming upset, paranoid or fearful it is a red flag that the kidneys, your powerhouse of the body, are low on QI and working too hard."
How to look after your kidneys"Identify and stop anything that is extremely energy draining as it will physically and mentally effect your health. Go to sleep before midnight, allow yourself to rest when you're tired and most importantly give yourself permission to take a break and de-stress throughout the day. Stress, and overloading workloads is a huge zapper of your energy, which you need to learn how to conserve."
Wishing you a happy and healthy January!
As a passionate enthusiast deeply immersed in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and holistic well-being, my expertise spans the intricate connections between bodily organs, emotions, and seasonal influences. I have delved into the ancient wisdom of TCM, studying the profound interplay of elements, emotions, and the physical body. My journey involves not only theoretical knowledge but also practical application, with a commitment to holistic health practices.
Now, let's dissect the fascinating article on heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, integrating TCM principles:
Your Heart: Fire, Summer, Red & Joy
The heart, known as the king of all organs in TCM, extends beyond physical fitness to encompass true contentment in life. Happiness, joy, and love are associated with the heart because it houses the Shen, our Spirit. This connection brings about a state of peacefulness in the body. The heart also governs blood circulation, and lack of blood nourishment can lead to stress, sadness, and anxiety.
Tips for Heart Health:
- Cultivate joy, happiness, and love in your life.
- Understand that emotional well-being is integral to cardiovascular health.
- Smiling is recommended as it stimulates the heart and brings internal peace.
Your Spleen: Earth, Late Summer, Yellow & Sympathy
The stomach and spleen, responsible for digestion in the body, also play a crucial role in processing emotions and thoughts. Chronic worry, anxiety, and overthinking weaken the spleen. Letting go and focusing on oneself is vital for maintaining spleen health. In TCM, the analogy of Mother Earth nurturing growth aligns with the digestive system's role in overall health.
Tips for Spleen Health:
- Opt for cooked, warm foods to support the warmth-loving nature of digestion.
- Eating naturally sweet and warming foods aids in healing.
Your Lungs: Metal, Autumn, White & Grief
The lungs, associated with the autumn season, are crucial for immune defense. Imbalances in lung function can manifest as respiratory issues or affect the skin, the associated tissue. The lungs play a role in letting go, both emotionally and physically, from life experiences to metabolic by-products.
Tips for Lung Health:
- Protect yourself from pathogens by dressing warmly in cold weather.
- Prioritize lung health to achieve healthy, glowing skin.
Your Kidneys: Water, Winter, Black & Fear
The kidneys act as the reserve generator of energy, storing "pre-natal QI" and supplying essential QI to organs. Winter, associated with kidneys, emphasizes energy conservation to prevent burnout. Kidneys also govern the ears and bones, and issues like deafness or osteoporosis indicate a need for kidney support. Fear is the associated emotion, signaling low kidney energy.
Tips for Kidney Health:
- Identify and stop energy-draining activities.
- Prioritize rest, especially before midnight, to conserve energy.
- Manage stress to prevent energy depletion.
In conclusion, the wisdom of TCM provides a holistic framework for understanding the intricate connections between our organs, emotions, and the environment. Applying these principles to daily life can foster a harmonious balance, promoting overall health and well-being.
