March Self-Healing Tips

The Chinese word for the 5 elements is "wu xing." This literally translates pretty much into "5 movements." This is how the seasons are viewed in Chinese medicine - not as things, but as the movement of energy. March brings the movement of Water into Wood, Winter into Spring. For our bodies, we experience the power of Water nourishing and infusing Wood. The energy that Water gives to Wood allows for sprouts to emerge fresh and new from branches, and for new leaves to emerge from the inner growth and energetic storage that occurs during Winter. We need to honor this within the body by balancing the Water and Wood energies, and assisting in the infusion of Water into Wood.

Self-Acupressure for the transition into Spring -
Liver 8, Qu Quan, Spring at the Bend, is the Water point on the Yin Wood meridian. Qu Quan treats lower abdominal pain, retention of urine, insomnia, depression, impatience, irritability, and pain in the knee and thigh. It helps to nourish the Liver, and balance and strengthen the Wood element. It is an excellent point for knee pain relieving knee pain.

Liver 8 is located along the inside of the knee. To locate, bend the knee and find where the knee crease ends on the inside of the knee. Just an inch above this point is Liver 8, in a depression tucked right up next to the bone there. It should feel tender on palpation. Massage this point in the evenings and at night before bed on both legs for a few minutes.

Chinese Nutrition for moving from Water to Wood:
As we emerge from the stillness and quiet of Winter into the bloom and awakening of Spring, it is important to balance nourishment with movement. Nutritionally, it is a good time to start adding more cleansing and purifying elements to the diet, but we want to make sure to continue to support the body properly.

Taking black sesame pesto as part of the diet is an excellent way to balance the nourishing and chi-moving required for the vernal transitional period. Black sesame seeds nourish the Kidney and Liver Yin; they help fortify the Yin aspect of wood, as well as to strengthen Water. They help with eyesight, constipation, and prematurely gray hair. Basil is a great chi mover, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory. It treats any kind of pain, including musculoskeletal pain - by moving stagnant blood. Basil is also warming, and helps with sluggishness, depression, pms, headaches, and hypochondriac pain.

Black Sesame Pesto Recipe: 1 cup packed basil leaves - remove stems; one-half cup olive oil; optional - one-half cup parmesan cheese; optional - 1-2 tbs. butter; 2-3 tbs. black sesame seeds; 4-8 cloves chopped garlic. Combine all ingredients in a food processor until blended.