An Earth-day (week) message from Healthworks, and some history of oriental medicine

The Earth is a powerful healer, and Earth Day is the perfect time to explore its restorative power.

Our schedules make it nearly impossible to get outside for a breath of fresh air, much less spend any intentional time enjoying the natural world. But our hectic and stressful lifestyles are precisely why we MUST prioritize time outside.

Our entire biological system – the brain and the earth itself – work on the same frequencies.” – Nicola Tesla

Living and working in climate-controlled homes and buildings has almost completely disconnected many of us from the natural world. Whether you are a gardener or not, you will benefit from the ancient ritual of running your hands through the soil. When the moisture from your hands mingles with the moisture of the Earth, a reconnection is made and a recognition occurs. The next time you’re near the ground outside, grab a handful of dirt, or pine needles, or sand and feel the texture as the materials slip through your fingers. Children naturally do this when they are outside, but adults forget this instinctual practice.

Lie on the ground. When is the last time you felt a connection to the natural world? If it’s been far too long, this is the perfect time to spend some time sprawled out on the grass and let your back re-connect to the Earth. Feel her energy pass through your spine and transmute all the exhaustion and pain you have been carrying. Enjoy and be refueled. A few moments will change your whole day.

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” – Rachel Carson

Go for a walk. Anytime you realize you have been inside for too long, step outside and let your feet lead you to a place of natural beauty and quiet contemplation.

We can use these methods to gain strength from the earth but please consider also that the Earth has been sending us a call to action. Nature is suffering. Oceans are filling with plastic and turning more acidic. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods, have affected millions of people. It's a time to remind us that the environment we live in, while bold and strong, also requires a lot of protection, for in protecting the Earth we are protecting that which gives us strength.

In Traditional Chinese medicine the Earth element is associated with the spleen and stomach meridian systems, and they play a very important role in our overall health and wellbeing. So much so that in 1180 CE, famous Chinese physician Li Dong Yuan founded the Earth School because he believed that the etiology of most diseases was a result of injury to the digestive system. According to this school of thought, the spleen and stomach are at the center of one’s health. The Earth School teachings remain relevant in today’s practice, especially in light of the recent research on the relationship between gut health and immunity. The emotion associated with the spleen is worry. With its connection to the mind and thinking, it is be prone to worry, anxiety, and overthinking. When caught in this loop, spleen Qi deficiency symptoms arise, like digestive weakness, IBS, and fatigue. Meditation and calming the mind are very important for spleen health. Your relationship with rest, mindfulness, and sleep directly contributes to the strength of your spleen qi.

Certain foods contribute to the strength of qi throughout the body. Some of these include: 

 Healthy Fats – coconut oil, olive oil, salmon, avocados 

 Fermented Foods – kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and miso soup 

 Cooked Fruits and Vegetables – choose a variety of colors from all parts of the plant (leaves, berries, roots) to increase nutrient intake

If you have determined that your symptoms are specific to a spleen qi deficiency, there are foods particularly suited for supporting the spleen. Examples include: 

Protein – poultry, beef, lamb, shellfish, salmon, trout, tuna, walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts

Fruits and Vegetables – carrots, apples, sweet cherries, mustard leaf, peaches, sweet potatoes, apricots, plums, squash, red grapes, taro plant root, dates, pumpkin, figs, dried fruits, cabbage

Grains – millet, lentils, oats, quinoa, polenta, rice

Herbs and Spices – fennel, nutmeg, cinnamon, aniseed, ginger, vanilla, cardamom

The spleen appreciates foods that are naturally sweet, and in some cases, it makes sense to add healthy sweeteners to your recipes in moderation. These include raw honey, maple syrup, and molasses. 

Adding foods that support spleen qi is a good start, but real improvements come when you also remove foods that suppress spleen qi. These include dairy products, fried foods, refined sugars, salty foods, refined grains, iced drinks, and meats high in saturated fat.  

Exercise is critical to keeping spleen qi healthy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend more time lifting at the gym. Traditional workouts have their place in a healthy lifestyle, but consider adding the practice of gentle movement disciplines like Tai Chi and Qigong as well.

Healthworks is about finding balance and good health. this is helped by decreasing our lifestyles impact on the earth within and at times reflecting on minimizing our impact on the Earth outside.