Develop strength and courage
As we enter the Element of Wood, in Traditional Chinese Medicine the time of spring, new life emerges and we start over again with renewed hope.

(Photo by Kouji Tsuru on Unsplash)
The year 2022 is in the sign of the Water Tiger in China. It represents power, courage, confidence and strength. It gives you the tools to remove all obstacles in your life and forge ahead with your clear vision and dreams.
In Chinese medicine the Tiger is associated with Wood, where the Gall bladder and Liver meridians work to detox the body and they also ensure a smooth flow of emotions.
The pandemic left us all exhausted and emotionally burnt out. Most of us had no control over every day life anymore. Some of us are in grief and suffer from the loss of loved ones. Many developed Long Covid Symptoms, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia. Symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, shortness of breath, brain fog, joint and muscle pain belong to everyday life. The last 3 weeks showed us that in the 21st century in the heart of Europe war is reality. That the Russian invasion in Ukraine devastates everything, bringing so much suffering and pain to all.
We all feel overwhelmed, afraid of the future, numb, angry or sad.
What can we do to clear the clutter in the mind? How to come back to a balanced emotional state?
Western medicine puts the metabolism and energy distribution to the tasks of the Liver. In Shiatsu we work on the Liver and Gall bladder meridians but parallel to the treatment, we encourage all to cleanse, to clear the liver and aid toxin elimination around this time of the year.
I recommend you from my heart to drink freshly prepared celery juice every morning on empty stomach. Lemon water, limes rhubarb and gooseberries are excellent to upsurge the spring energy. Move your body in a way that is fun for you, dance, walk, hike, practice yoga, swim, Thai chi or riding your bicycle. Your muscles, tendons, joints work best, when you exercise on a daily basis.

(Photo by Alex Lvrs on Unsplash)
When you can't even think about to do sports, you experience lethargic dragging energy, cloudy thinking and cramps in the muscles, in Shiatsu we look deeper and work with the Kidney and Badder meridians. By treating the Water energetic system in the body, we build energy so that the pathogens, virus and heavy metal can be expelled by the liver.
The Element of Water, or Kidney-Bladder system is related to winter. If you go to nature and experience the natural processes, you will be amazed to see how the soil is prepared during hibernation for the new spring growth. If the ground is depleted, the new seeds can not sprout. If the energy of the Kidney meridian is weak, the Liver meridian can not work efficiently. Pay attention not to deplete the Kidney energy through overwork, over-achieving, competitiveness and little sleep. Honor your body, listen to its needs, sleep 1 hour more, build in small self-care exercises in your daily routine, drink at least 2 big bottles of filtered water and relax, means do actively nothing.

(Photo by Yuliyan Grozdev by Unplash)
The Kidney-energy brings determination, our will to survive and succeed in life. Fight or flight, thrive and survive are basic instincts and the will power of the Kidney is amazing. Unfortunately when this energy is driven by fear, our energy becomes depleted and we feel exhausted. Whatever you decide to do this spring, nourish and pamper yourself first! Cook organic fresh food, use oats, spirulina, seaweeds, miso, tamari, salty flavor and drink plenty of water and herbal tea.

When the body is acidic, it is a normal reaction to stress, external pandemic and war, internal virus and bacteria. Acidity can help to kill or expel pathogens and virus.
Coming back to PH - balance, you can try to prepare cooked barley and drink the water to alkalize the urine. Energetically all salty flavour supports the Kidney-Bladder system.
Restore the cool, calm Yin balance and prepare the ground for a healthy and happy spring.
Book a Shiatsu consultation and Treatment on my homepage, I am happy to see you in person.
Stay safe and well!
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