Welcome to Spring!
After the last year of life being overshadowed by the changes in the world, I am feeling very blessed and inspired by the longer, sunnier, and warmer days.
I hope the energy of Spring is opening your heart and soul to all of the possibilities of the future.
In Traditional Chinese medicine, the Qi of Spring brings many benefits and a few challenges.
The energy of Spring is impetuous and unpredictable, like a teenager! 🏂
This Qi also relates to the health of your liver. If your liver is healthy and there are no circulation or communication issues with the rest of your body, then Spring can be very generative and easy. Your experience of 'Spring cleaning' will be a positive and delightful change from the oppression and stagnation of Winter.
***Going for a spring Cleaning or a Spring Decluttering like me or a Spring Detox? Then KEEP READING ***👀
(me, in a field in Bulgaria, enjoying the Qi exactly 2 years ago)
However, if your liver is congested (especially after the last year) with emotion, turbidity (yuck!), Spring can be a time of unexpected symptoms and health challenges.
📢 I see this every year in my Psoriasis groups, in the Neuro-somatic mindfulness group that I created years ago, while offering advice to others with Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and other affections.... For no apparent reason, people often suddenly get allergies, flare-ups, mood swings, and unwanted changes in their sleep.
This time of year can be especially challenging for those of us with an autoimmune diagnosis. That can get complicated to unravel in a short email, so consider this.
The Root cause of MOST chronic diseases in the western world and many Autoimmune conditions is inflammation. There are many books that just talk about inflammation in its many forms, functions, and dysfunctions.
🎈To embrace the Qi of Spring, instead of talking about theories and what-ifs, I thought it would be more effective to share a simple and VERY enjoyable solution - or, at least, a good start to reducing inflammation.
My favorite way to reduce inflammation and enjoy many unique beverages, treats, meals, and homemade supplements is Golden Milk.
Here is a link to a recipe I use for Golden Milk to get you started.
First, we have to prepare the turmeric paste, in a quantity larger than the one we need daily, then we will keep it in the fridge, in a jar, and we will use it as many times as needed.
We will not preserve it for more than 30 days.
We need 50 grams of turmeric and 120 ml of natural water, put them in a saucepan, and heat them, stirring until a paste is formed. This paste is the basis of the preparation.
For a cup of golden milk, we will heat well a cup of vegetable milk, preferably rice milk, to which we will add a teaspoon of turmeric paste. We don't boil, we just bring it to a high temperature.
When we turn off the heat, we will pour the mixture into the cup and add a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of almond oil. Stir and add a little vanilla.
The benefits of golden milk are as follows:
- it reduces joint inflammation, is recommended for people with back pain, spine problems, or muscle pain;
- it cleanses the liver, stimulates digestion, and detoxifies the body;
fights respiratory problems, viral diseases, is useful for those suffering from sinusitis and cough; - it increases the body's immune capacity, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties;
- it keeps our metabolism in shape, helping us to maintain our body weight;
- it lowers blood cholesterol levels, is recommended for people with cardiovascular disease.
I have some friends who are yoga practitioners. They consume golden milk daily because it helps to elasticize the joints and allows them to maintain specific positions for a long time. My Yoga masters friends advise me to keep such a cure with Golden Milk for at least 40 days, one cup a day.
Also, if you use Medical Cannabis, BE WARNED that you may find this combination (with the golden milk) a bit more intense than usual.
🍃 Take care of your liver, my friends. This Spring may need some extra cleaning!
