May is the month dedicated to celebrating women and a reminder of the importance of self-care. Women act as nurturers in society, so it only seems right that we honor them. Prioritizing self-care is especially important in Chinese Medicine, as it promotes nurturing the spleen for overall well-being. The spleen plays a vital role in digestion and Qi production, particularly crucial for women who are more prone to spleen deficiencies. As spring transitions into summer lets focus on caring for your spleen to enhance vitality and discuss a few things you can do to implement a regime to nurture the spleen and focus on self-care.
Balance Diet and Root Vegetables
1. Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for nurturing the spleen. Root vegetables, sweet yams, squash, and foods with yellow and orange hues all support spleen health. The spleen prefers lightly cooked vegetables as opposed to raw. Choosing warm beverages like teas, ginger tea, fennel seed tea, and licorice tea aid in maintaining spleen balance. As the spleen regulates our emotional health, note that poor spleen health can lead to increased anxiety and worry.
Regular Eating Schedule and Healthy Sweets
2. Eating on a regular schedule and ensuring thorough chewing of food are beneficial habits for spleen health. Sweet flavors are also helpful, so opt for natural sweeteners like dried fruits and berries, while avoiding processed sugary snacks. Consistency in meal timing can greatly support spleen function, meaning that skipping meals can negatively impact the spleen’s well-being.
Self-love and Meditation
3. Practicing self-love meditations can help address anxiety and worries, a sign of spleen deficiencies. Self-love meditations are powerful tools that can deeply resonate with women, as they tend to be the nurturers in society. By practicing self-love through meditation, women can cultivate a profound sense of acceptance, compassion, and understanding towards themselves. Just as they naturally care for others, women can channel that nurturing energy inward, fostering a kind and loving relationship with their own beings. If you are new to meditation, check out Insight Timer. It is a free app and a great place to begin. https://insighttimer.com/
This May be sure to prioritize health and wellness, ensuring you take care of yourself first to better care for others around you. Implement these practices to nurture your spleen and promote overall well-being. Check back each month for more informative posts on nutrition and health, including acupuncture and Nutrition Response TestingⓇ.
Wishing you a month filled with joy, empowerment, and fulfillment for all the incredible women around the world. Happy Women’s Month from your friends at Olson Acupuncture Group & Nutritional Healing.
