Signs That You Need Acupuncture This Spring

Seasons—particularly the transitional periods, when we move from one season to the next—factor significantly into how we feel.  In Chinese Medical theory, each season is energetically linked to an organ system in the body.  The spring’s organ system is the Liver and to a lesser extent, the Gall Bladder.

During the seasonal transition the energetic Liver is vulnerable and the functions that the Liver controls has a tendency to be stressed. Eventually, spring can become a time when the Liver and its associated functions thrive. However, during this transitional period, certain symptoms commonly show up. Acupuncture improves these symptoms by restoring balance to the Liver system.

 Here are six signs that your Liver may need some acupuncture:

1)  You feel extra tense
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, energetic Liver is the system that’s responsible for smooth flow throughout the body. When the Liver is not functioning optimally, things like emotional stress, rigid posture, shallow breathing, and jaw clenching may become more noticeable and can create pain and frustration.

2) You have headaches and other aches and pains.
When things aren’t flowing smoothly, we start to experience what acupuncturists think of as stagnation-type symptoms. These include pain, and specifically pain that feels like pressure, tightness or restriction. Tension headaches and menstrual cramps are commonly worse this time of year.

3)  Your muscles are really stiff the Liver and its associated system, Gallbladder, nourish the body’s connective tissue, tendons and ligaments. You may notice increased stiffness, tension or tightness in your muscles and joints in the coming weeks.

4)   You feel irritable and frustrated.
Are you feeling more annoyed than charmed by the springtime sound of chirping birds?  In Chinese Medical theory all organ systems in acupuncture have an associated emotion. Liver’s emotion is anger. There’s an emotional stuck-ness that can take hold in spring.  The emotional symptoms associated with Liver imbalances mimic the physical stagnation that happens.  You may notice yourself feeling frustrated, perhaps more easily angered.

5)   Your digestion feels off
 Healthy digestion is heavily dependent on consistent and smooth movement throughout the whole body. When the Liver fails to maintain smooth flow, digestive disturbances can easily occur. When emotional stress is higher than usual, digestive function naturally declines.

6)  Your eyes are bothering you just as all organ systems have an associated emotion, they also have an associated sense. Clear vision is ruled by the Liver system, so any issues related to eye health are usually attributed, at least in part, to a Liver imbalance. This can include poor vision as well as eye pain and fatigue, and dry eyes.

This simple exercise can help. The Springtime Acupressure Point If you only remember one acupuncture point all spring, it should be Liver 3.

Located on the foot, between the first and second toes (see picture), Liver 3 is the source point on the Liver channel. Source points behave sort of like central stations on subway lines. They are hubs where internal and external energies gather and transform. They are single, high-concentration points that grant access to the larger system.

Any time of year, Liver 3 is a go-to point for stagnation throughout the body. Because of the spring–Liver connection, the point is doubly useful for addressing springtime stagnation-type symptoms. Applying acupressure to Liver 3 will help get things moving like no other point. Poke around the point area until you discover a tender spot. Liver 3, if pressed firmly enough, is sensitive on most people. Once you have the point, apply firm pressure. This should feel a little achy. The more the better on this point, so feel free to do this acupressure exercise anytime your bare feet are available. Liver 3 can be pressed on one or both sides.

 If in the coming weeks you experience some tell-tale signs of a Liver imbalance, don’t get down on yourself—they’re completely normal during the seasonal transition. A little acupuncture will help realign your system so that you can enjoy the wonders of spring.