Spring begins this month, and according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we are entering the Wood Element’s domain. TCM’s Five Elements, or Rhythms model, offers us a way to look at chronic health, behavior, and emotional patterns through the lens of the seasons. Spring is associated with the Wood Element and connected to the Liver (LV) and Gallbladder (GB) Meridians (energy pathways in the body). Balancing these two Meridians can help us to balance our wellbeing and go a long way with helping us ease into the beauty of Spring.

When both LV and GB Meridians are in balance, the Wood Element thrives, and you tap into your inner strength, flexibility, generosity, and dependability. Just like wood acts in nature, you also can experience that same growth and expansion. However, an out-of-balance Wood element, can create feelings of anger, irritability, and frustration, along with physical problems such as issues with hormones, eye health, and Liver and Gallbladder problems. Fortunately, Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) has some techniques that can help keep the Liver and Gall Bladder Meridians in balance, and therefore also balance the Wood Element.

Holding what are called Neurovascular Points (NV) can help the emotional response of frustration and anger that you can feel when these two meridians are imbalanced. Simply place the fingers of both hands on your forehead above your eyes and put your thumbs on the points outside of your eyes about a half an inch out from where your lids meet. Hold with a light touch for as long as you want and take some deep breaths. You can also hold the area behind your knees to calm Gall Bladder and balance it a little more.

Working with the Neurolymphatic Reflex Points (NL) can help balance the meridians, the organs, and the entire lymphatic system. Stimulating these points helps to support the flow of lymph throughout the body and get rid of any built-up toxins. Be sure to rub these points with deep pressure, and if they are sore, that is a sign that they need to be worked with a little more. You can work with the Liver NL by rubbing under the right breast, and Gall Bladder NL is located near the center of the chest. See the diagram for exact placement. 

Each meridian has a Source Point that it is connected to the organ energy it is associated with. To stimulate these points, you can stretch, tap, twist, buzz or massage them, or simply hold them for one to two minutes. Both LV and GB source points are located on the foot. See the diagram for their locations.

One of my all-time favorite EEM exercises, The Blow Out, helps to release emotional toxins and can help you let go of built up anger and frustration. To begin, bring your arms to either side of your body and make fists, imagining that all your frustrations and negative feelings are in your hands. On an inhale, bring your arms above your head, and on an exhale, bring them down quickly and open your fists, using the “shhh” sound. Repeat three times and on the last movement, bring your hands down slowly and deliberately and let it all go. I hope that some or all of these exercises help you to experience good health and wellbeing this Spring and stay balanced throughout it!