Top five reasons why you need an acupuncture 'tune-up' this spring!

Spring: a lovely reminder of how BEAUTIFUL change can truly be!"

I am not sure why, but we will give our car or bike a tune- up without question, but what about our own body?  I am guilty of this as well, always giving to others, taking care of everyone else in my life, but not always enough to me!  If there was any time that was a good one to get acupuncture, it's the spring time.  Here are my top five reasons why a 'tune-up' is a good idea this spring!
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1. Early spring is a time of extreme temperature fluctuations and changes in atmospheric conditions.  This makes you more vulnerable to colds and flus.  Acupuncture is a preventative medicine that strengthens the immune system so that you can navigate these changes without becoming sick!
2. In the winter, the body's energy goes deeper into the body, and is somewhat dormant, like a tree that drops its leaves.  During spring that energy is coming back to life and is more accessible to the energy of an acupuncture treatment.  That movement of the rising Qi (pronounced chee) can nourish the body and encourage the growth of springtime.
3. WIND!  Spring is windy, which makes you vulnerable to colds, stiff necks, sore throats and headaches.   Wind is one of the six pernicious influences and is considered one of the major causes of disease in Chinese medicine.  It often attacks the upper body and responds very well to acupuncture treatment.
4. Acupuncture is detoxifying.  Spring is a natural time for cleansing and detoxing the excesses and stagnancy of winter.  Acupuncture, and ear acupuncture in particular, is a powerful way to support detox.  Also cupping and gua sha which are adjunctive techniques to acupuncture, are powerful ways to detoxify the muscles and disperse the stagnancy in the body.
5. It can balance your Wood Element.  Spring time is the season of wood, which is controlled by the liver and gall bladder meridians.  It feels counter intuitive that you would feel more irritability, stress and anger during the spring, but an out of balance wood element could be why.  Spring is a big transition from Water (which is more deep, meditative and internal) to Wood which is expansive, open and has big plans!  A good 'tune-up' treatment could be just what you need to gracefully move through that transition!

So I hope this inspires you to 'tune-up' this spring with some acupuncture!  Other good ways to tune-up are to drink lemon water, eat some fresh spring veggies and sprouts, increase your exercise outdoors and take lots of deep cleansing breaths.

 Happy Spring!