Festive Digestion

We’ve made it to December! What a year it has been, I’m sure you’re hanging out for a break over Christmas. But most of us still have some work to do, perhaps a little more than usual to get things done before the end of the year. Mix in a bunch of social occasions, silly season celebrations, and more drinking and chocolate than you’d usually consume, and it can be an exhausting – albeit festive – month.

This month’s blog is about looking at ways through a Chinese Medicine lens to help your body handle the onslaught of a fast-paced and indulgent December, so you can have the energy you need for the things you enjoy.

The Spleen & Liver

In Chinese Medicine, the two organs that are hit the hardest by stress, over-eating, and over-drinking are the Spleen and the Liver.

The Spleen (or Pi) is the name of the organ system in TCM that is largely responsible for digestion, assimilation & energy production in the body – a different and more comprehensive function than that of the physical spleen in your body, but for simplicity’s sake let’s stick with the term Spleen as the accepted english translation for the structure and it’s functions that we’ll be referring to in this post.

When the Spleen is functioning well, digestion should be smooth – no pain, bloating, regular formed bowel movements – and the mind should be clear. Bloating, gas, loose bowel movements, brain fog, and even prolapse conditions and swollen lower legs can indicate a compromised Spleen.

The Liver (or Gan) has many functions from both a Western and Eastern medical perspective. It is involved in digestion, building and purifying blood, removing toxins, sleep, reproductive function, stress management and more. The Liver affects all the other organs so when it is working well, the body generally feels great! Plentiful energy, harmonious digestion, sleep, mood, movement etc. Tell-tale signs that the Liver is out of balance include irritability, menstrual issues, muscle/tendon pain & spasms, eye issues, discomfort in the hypochondriac region (under the ribcage in the upper abdomen), to name a few...

So how do you treat your Liver & Spleen kindly so you can feel your best this Summer?

Improve your eating habits

Take your time during meals; chew thoroughly, sit down to eat & don’t rush away afterwards. Avoid eating late at night, have regular small meals rather than over-eating, and avoid consuming large amounts of water with a meal.

Choose foods that support the Spleen & Liver rather than challenge them

Foods that support the Spleen: Warm, simple foods like rice and root vegetables, spices to warm and aid digestion, and herbal teas like ginger & peppermint. Soups, stews & broths, with lean protein, vegetables and whole grains.

Foods that challenge the Spleen: Cold foods, excessive amounts of food, processed food such as white bread, pasta and sugar. Some dairy, greasy/fatty foods. This is a general list so try and pay attention to symptoms like mucous in your nose or throat, tummy upset, bloating or sleepiness after eating etc to narrow down foods that are specifically challenging for you.

Foods that support the Liver: Fresh, green foods (dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables), sour foods (lemon juice in your morning water), small amounts of coffee can be good (this really depends on the individual so judge for yourself how you feel you process caffeine), herbs.

Foods that challenge the Liver: Alcohol, excess caffeine, greasy/fatty/fried foods, refined sugar and other highly processed foods, excess meat and spicy foods.

Lifestyle habits and emotions

In Chinese medicine there are emotional aspects associated with each organ system. A calm, clear thinking mind can be the result of a healthy Spleen, while worry, over-thinking, and circular thinking can affect the Spleen’s ability to do it’s jobs. A person with a healthy Liver might be motivated, decisive, and assertive, while stress, suppressed emotions, anger and frustration can impact the free flow of Liver Qi. So do your best at this time of year to be mindful of your emotions, and keep up with the stress management tools that work for you. Getting the basics right like enough sleep and daily exercise will really stack the odds in your favour for staying vibrant this silly season.

Acupuncture & Massage

It’s all well and good for me to encourage you to eat well and avoid stress at this time of year, but I’m aware that it’s not always easy and there are bound to be plenty of times where it’s just too hard. I’d much rather you enjoy those occasions than beat yourself up, and know that your wellbeing is always on a spectrum that you can keep working to tilt in the right direction. An excellent way to help bolster your health (with minimal effort on your part!) is by coming in for a treatment session. Using acupuncture and massage I can help your body and mind to relax, while specifically supporting the Spleen and Liver systems in accordance with how you present on the day.

(Note: I am currently booked up until Christmas but do contact me to be put on the cancellation list or book a session for 2025).

Happy Holidays!

I hope you have a fun and festive end to 2024, and your break is relaxing and restorative. Enjoy your time with family and friends and I look forward to seeing you and all else that comes with 2025!