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Massaging Hands & Feet for Health
Did you you know that all of the meridians or channels that energize each of your body’s internal organs begin or end at the tips of the toes and hands? And that by gently massaging your hands and feet you’re energizing your whole body?
Crouching,
peering up at the clouds —
a frog ...
– Chiyo
Spending a few minutes each day rubbing your hands and feet isn’t just one more thing to do in an already over-scheduled day; think of it as a pleasurable ‘tune-up’ that’s a perfect complement to your traditional exercise workout.
A Special Relationship With Yourself
You don’t need someone else to massage your hands and feet. Hands are easy and can be rubbed anytime, anywhere. Feet are a bit more challenging regarding when and where you can do it. Figure out the best time and place - and then do it.
Late Snow
Seeming as though
this must be the last of it—
so much spring snow!
Issa
Massaging your feet leads to other great health benefits beyond those that come from energizing the organs related to the toes.
Since many of us haven’t done much stretching in a while, it may be challenging to get to the feet easily. Or maybe there’s a bit more bulk in the mid-section than the last time you rubbed your feet. Just by reaching for your feet you will stretch out tight parts of the body, and begin bringing more energy into the digestive system, which jumpstarts the process of losing bulk in the midsection and toning the muscles.
In a short time after regularly massaging your feet, you’ll be enjoying more energy, and feeling healthier overall.
Getting Closer To That Special Someone
Nothing says ‘I care about you’ better than a hand and foot massage. So why not give this gift of love to that special someone in your life? And hopefully after experiencing how good it feels they’ll want to pass this goodness back to you. And if your gift of a hand and foot massage isn’t returned after a reasonable amount of time, you might hint about an early birthday present.
So give it a try, you’ll be amazed at how much better things are after getting rubbed the right way.
Enjoy.
Spring and Liver Energy
Spring is the time of forcing out new growth. This forcing power is what Oriental Medicine call ‘Liver’ energy, so it’s no surprise that the organ most affected in Spring is the Liver.
While Spring is a wonderfully energetic and creative time – following a long, dark Winter – it can also be very intense on your nerves and emotions.
This life-generating intensity of Spring fosters highly creative and expansive feelings—if your body is balanced enough to channel the energy of the season.
Snow melts,
And the village is overflowing—
with children.
Issa
Be Ready To Grow
Visualize a strong, healthy tree. The existence of that tree depends on the health of its roots. Its roots provide the nourishment and balance needed to support its foliage and fruit.
In a similar way, a strong, healthy Liver is a primary force affecting your health in Spring because it provides the energy needed to root, balance, and channel the energy in your body that bursts forth in Spring.
Imagine too how the forcing of Spring pushes out leaves from Winter’s barren branches. This same energy is coursing through your body; but in people that energy is channeled through the nerves.
To the extent your body is ‘balanced’ Spring is an exhilarating, creative time; to the extent it’s not …
Spring Health Tip
During this time of seasonal transition, remain mindful of cold, making sure you don’t get too chilled. Your body is still vulnerable from the Winter and you don’t want to make it easy for a cold or flu to take hold.
Pay Attention To How You Feel
One sure sign that your Liver needs balancing or replenishing is if you experience the most common Liver-related discomfort in Spring — often described as: jagged, jittery, jumpy, tight, knotted, wiry, or fried nerves.
Help Is Here — Or On The Way
If you find yourself feeling jagged, jittery, jumpy, tight, knotted, wiry, or fried — or recognize it because of the effects it’s having on your emotions and relationships with others — there’s a reason for it: Spring is that time of year.
If you want relief, Oriental Medicine — acupuncture, Chinese medical herbs, diet & nutrition, and Chi Kung — can provide it. If you don’t and want to tough it out, take heart, things will change again when we get to Summer.
Valentine’s Day: A Matter of the Heart (and Kidneys)
Happy Valentine’s Day! a celebration of the Heart — whose health depends on strong Kidneys. As Valentine’s Day inspires you to feel love in your heart, I encourage you to also focus for a minute or two on the level of energy (health) you’re feeling, or not feeling, in your Heart and Kidneys.
As I mentioned in A Mid-Winter Checkup, your kidneys are probably pretty pooped by now, leaving you feeling low in energy. Look at the Five Element Cycle of Regulation illustration on this page and you’ll notice that the ‘Water’ element, embodied in your Kidneys, regulates the ‘Fire’ element, which is embodied in your Heart.
So if your Kidneys are low in energy they won’t be able to adequately support the Heart, and as a result, the Heart function can get a bit out of alignment.
What to Look Out For
If you’re already predisposed to heart problems, you may be experiencing things like a little bit of extra pressure in the chest, or maybe some mild heart irregularities in the rhythm and beat, usually not to the extent of interfering with breathing; but for people who have compromised heart energy, these symptoms may be more severe at this point in the winter.
Mid-season is the time to start rebuilding the strength of that season’s organ.
A Way to Good Health
A ‘rule of thumb’ for good health is this: toward the middle and end of each season, focus on rebuilding the strength of the organ that is the focal point for that season. Right now, in mid-winter, it’s your Kidneys. And because each organ system has a companion organ that it regulates, (at mid-winter it’s your heart), it’s a good idea to pay some attention to the companion too so that it will be in tune and ready to go when it’s season to perform comes; (for the Heart, that’s summer).
What You Can Do
Acupuncture, Chinese Medical Herbs, and Chi Kung are simple, time-tested ways to balance the energy in the seasonally affected organ system, and to build your overall level of energy so that you can enjoy that most wonderful, yet subtle, of feelings: Good Health!
If you want help learning about, and experiencing, the health benefits offered by this ‘5 Element Way,’ call me for an appointment, or to discuss your situation.
Contact Kitty
for more information
(206) 842-6936
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As always ... wishing you health and well-being ...
Kitty
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