Jin Shin Jyutsu for Changing Seasons

Changes in season with different temperatures, longer or shorter days, and pollen or mold counts, can be challenging for our bodies. This year in particular the weather has bounced back and forth more than usual. To help us adjust to this new habitat and often a vastly different lifestyle, we can use our ever useful and resourceful JSJ, such as the tip this month. Certain organs are more active or “in charge” with each season, different emotions are activated, and certain foods are more suitable.

With spring our gall bladder and liver are more active – and taking a spring tonic or a detoxifying cleanse are popular in spring. Our livers perform detoxification for our bodies, so this age old practice makes perfect sense. Happiness is the positive emotion for spring, while anger is on the opposite side of the spectrum. Let’s focus on everything that makes us happy with spring and new growth -- more time outdoors, longer days, and that feeling of anticipation of new things to come. Pick a spring cleanse to do and with it find some old hurts, frustrations or resentments that you feel ready to let go.

My favorite spring detox is simply eating a quarter cup of raw cilantro each day for a week. You can sprinkle it on salads, put it in some scrambled eggs, omelet or frittata, or make tacos, or just munch it down if you really like cilantro! Every day that week take a few minutes outdoors to join with nature and find things you’re ready to let go.

Best foods to help our bodies detox and reduce winter body fat and mucus are lots and lots of vegetables, especially leafy greens and those low in sugar. Choose foods lower in fat, starch & fruit. A lovely salad everyday with carrot, asparagus, radish, snap peas, fresh herbs, lemon or orange zest provides the liver with the antioxidants it needs for its job of cleansing and detoxifying.