How the Liver is Directly Involved in Energy Flow, Emotional Balance and Life Planning According to Traditional Chinese Medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine one of the principal roles of the liver, the organ associated with the Wood element and energetic Spring, is to help chi (vital energy) and emotions flow smoothly throughout body and mind. Its physiological function is to dynamically bring smoothness to the flow of chi. If it doesn’t, liver stagnates causing mental, emotional and physical problems.

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In additional to controlling free flow of vital energy, its functions include storing nutrients, governing detoxification and regulating the blood. It is related to vision (both literally and figuratively), the eyes, tendons, energetic and emotional ups and downs as well as the ability to make major decisions.

The liver is our body’s unsung hero. It works very hard to keep us healthy by getting rid of what we don’t need. It’s tasked with filtering everything we eat and drink including any pharmaceuticals we take.

“Liver symbolically represents choice and the execution of one’s life plan, vision, planning and action. In traditional Chinese medicine it gives the capacity for being goal oriented and resolute…” —Sandra K. Anderson in The Practice of Shiatsu

“Because the Wood element is associated with self-expression, assertiveness is a key aspect of healthy Wood. A person who is timid and shy is not able to engage in self-expression. Someone who is overly assertive, to the point of being aggressive, is out of balance to the other extreme.” —Sandra K. Anderson in The Practice of Shiatsu

Liver stores the blood giving us the fortitude to make decisions and feel supported. Liver blood deficiency will often show up as stagnancy in the form of eye problems, fatigue and lack of luster and color in the hair and nails.

Liver’s mission to elegantly flow chi energy throughout the body is actually characteristic of Wood’s tendency to grow and flourish. Wood represents new life and in the body the Wood element is responsible for action and expression of self as well as the smooth flow of chi.

Anger, frustration, anxiety and restlessness are the emotions associated with Wood and an out-of-balance Wood type.

“The color green correlates significantly to the Wood element’s emotional relationship with its main organs, the liver and gallbladder. You may have heard people say, ‘He’s “green with envy,” or ‘She’s “green” with anger!’” —Susan Levy, D.C. in Your Body Can Talk: How to Use Simple Muscle Testing for Health and Well Being

Traditional Chinese Medicine tells us when emotions remain unexpressed, repressed, prolonged and not brought to balance this toxicity of emotion has the very real potential to damage our health.

Excessive irritability, restlessness and anger can negatively impact the liver resulting in conditions like menstrual pain, headache, redness of face and eyes, dizziness, and dry mouth. An out-of-balance liver may also result in stormy moods.

Liver chi stagnation may also lead to overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, elevated cortisol levels and higher stress levels, and these, in turn, compromise the immune system.

Learn how to keep your vital energy balanced. Your vital energy always come first. It’s the fundamental generator of the body and of all your body’s other functions. Read how Wood is the energy of the energy in our blog, “Describing the Wood Type Personality…” here.

Ways to help keep Wood energy, emotions and liver balanced:

• Use the Wood line of skin and hair care by PHYTO5; it’s quantum energetic and works on the level of not just skin, but vital energy and emotions. If you can choose only one product of the line, begin with Wood Phyt’Ether serum which is the most potent in the line. Learn more about Wood Phyt’Ether here.

• Understand traditional Chinese medicine’s Wood element and its characteristics. It can help you to make balanced choices in your life and to live in harmony with Wood.

• Work to keep your chakras balanced. They are powerhouses of vital energy. Balancing the seven chakras is essential to beautiful wellness and vitality.

• Stay active through exercise. Balanced Wood enjoys being physically active.

• To support and respect the liver, refrain from eating two to three hours before sleep. Late night eating causes the liver to stagnate preventing it from doing its detoxifying work and preventing our bodies from repairing themselves at night. 

• Keep in mind that overeating puts undue pressure on both liver and gallbladder. Do your best to stop eating when you feel 80% full.

• You can support the liver by consuming whole grains like brown rice, barley, millet, quinoa, spelt, kamut, oats and wheat berries. Since crackers, bread, bagels, and cereals are baked and dry, they are not conducive to optimum liver function.

• Eat leafy greens,* fresh herbs and berries which help to build liver blood.

• Journal to get your angry emotions out.

• Practice meditation which helps to keep emotions balanced, especially emotions of anger and restlessness.

• Learn to let go, forgive and accept what is. Practice appreciation.

• Learn to be assertive, not angry. Learn to be flexible, not rigid.

“The liver function is considered to be the grand architect for our vision of the future. The liver is the center of strategic planning. The gallbladder is thought to be the center of our ability to make decisions and judge wisely. From the functions of the liver and the gallbladder, we can plan and choose–we combine new future possibilities with the wisdom of the past and, as a result, are able to see the clear and appropriate course to take.” —Jennifer Dubowsky, LAc.

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Endnotes:

* bok choy, carrot tops, collards, daikon tops, dandelion greens, kale, leek, lettuces, mustard greens, nappa cabbage, radish greens, turnip tops, watercress

Press, Tsinghua University. Traditional Chinese Medicine: Theory and Principles. Germany, De Gruyter, 2015.Levy, Susan, and Lehr, Carol.

Levy, D.C. Susan. Your Body Can Talk: How to Use Simple Muscle Testing for Health and Well Being. United States, Kalindi Press, 2013.

Anderson, Sandra K. The Practice of Shiatsu. Malawi, Mosby Elsevier, 2007.

Stiles, Kg. Chinese Medicine Guidebook Essential Oils to Balance the Wood Element and Organ Meridians. N.p., Draft2Digital, 2020.

Image courtesy of Dziana Hazanbekeva at Pexels

Why You Should Use the Wood Line of Skincare During Energetic Spring Even If You Don’t Have the Wood Skin Conditi

All five energies according to traditional Chinese medicine—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water—are synergistically at work in the proper function of cells and healthy tissues. In traditional Chinese medicine, Wood is one of the five aspects of vital energy and is fundamental to the optimal function of the other four.

The body is not just matter made up of solids and fluids but unseen energy known as vital energy also courses through it. This vital energy is called prana in yoga and Ayurvedic medicine and chi in traditional Chinese medicine and by practitioners of Asian martial arts. This ancient concept is also a modern one as it is now demonstrated by quantum physics.

The skin is actually a vital organ possessing reflexive properties which correlate to the body’s organs. This is because vital energy connects all parts of the body to each other. PHYTO5 utilizes the reflexiveness of skin to practice facial reflexology demonstrated by the Five Clay Mask quantum energetic facial. 

A Wood imbalance usually manifests as:

• oily skin, blackheads, and hyperpigmentation

• oily scalp and hair

• issues of vital energy circulation meaning the flow of vital energy is either impeded or overactive

• emotions of anger and/or anxiety.*

If you have any of these Wood imbalances, this means your body might be out of balance with its vital energy flow.

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Any skin condition, for that matter, likely has a root cause in vital energy imbalance or blockage of vital energy flow. And your skin condition can actually help to pinpoint where you have that imbalance or blockage.

Traditional Chinese medicine tells us that in addition to five seasons, five elements, five basic emotions and five sets of skin conditions, the body is host to five major fluids, four of which are clearly matter:

• the Fire element’s red blood

• the Metal element’s blue blood

• the Earth element’s lymph, and

• the Water element’s water.

The other fluid of the Wood element is simply energy—vital energy.

You could say it is the energy of the energy because without Wood energy nothing else happens. This is why, in any series of esthetic treatments which follow the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, the Wood treatment is always the first one we do. It ensures that the initiating energy is balanced because it must be before we go on to balancing the other four fluids.

By stimulating vital energy flow we give energy to the cells. If cells aren’t properly nourished, including being nourished with vital energy, the body begins breaking down.

A burst of yang energy occurs during energetic Spring, the season of the Wood element, and it’s important to encourage this expanding and rising of yang whatever element ‘type’** we may be. During energetic Spring the burst of yang energy drives the growth and vitality of the body.

For these reasons, youth is associated with the vital energy of Wood.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the Wood element’s color is green—the color associated with Spring, new life, vitality and growth. PHYTO5’s Wood line labeling features this color. And green is prominent in our naturally colored quantum energetic Wood element green Clay Mask itself.

We want to make sure our vital energy is stimulated when it needs to be and kept in balance since it fundamentally supports the other four vital energies. An energetic deficiency left untreated for any length of time invites others, and problems will then accumulate exponentially.

For example, an imbalance of Wood vital energy causes sluggish Fire (both are part of strong yang with limited yin energies). Insufficient Wood and Fire allows Metal (growing yin energy) to be too strong, keeping Wood weak (since Metal is the break of Wood) while it augments Water which also maintains Fire weakness. But Water, being the peak yin energy, is not likely to strengthen the rising yang energy of Wood and so the original condition is maintained or even worsened.

The cure is a stimulation of yang vital energy and a diffusion of overbearing yin vital energy. And this is the reason why all esthetic treatments addressing a difficult situation should always start with a Wood treatment followed by a Fire treatment, then Earth, Metal and finally by a Water treatment, each treatment taking place two to three days after the previous one.

To support your balance at home of skin, vital energy and emotions, be sure to use the Wood line periodically and especially during the Spring energetic season which runs from February 5 to April 17 every year.

The entire Wood line is quantum energetic*** and will work to support your vital energy balanced flow, but if you have to choose only one product, choose Wood element Phyt’Ether serum, the most potent in the line.

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Endnotes:

* In traditional Chinese medicine, there is an ancestral knowledge that each major emotion has a seat within an organ. For example, anger is an emotion linked to liver. Chronically angry people will not, as a result, have healthy livers even if their diet is otherwise perfect. Consequently, they may display the physical symptoms of a Wood energetic imbalance as well as emotions of anger and/or anxiety.

**The five element ‘types’ are well described in a number of our blogs:

• Describing the Wood Type Personality According to Traditional Chinese Medicine

• The Earth Type Personality According to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Understanding Your Archetype for Harmony and Balance

• The Metal Type Personality According to Traditional Chinese Medicine

• The Water Type Personality According to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Understanding Your Archetype for Harmony and Balance

***In fact, all five element lines are quantum energetic.

Describing the Wood Type Personality According to Traditional Chinese Medici

At the time of our birth, the prevailing cosmic and telluric energies have an important effect on our personality. It can be said that at the time of birth these energies give us our own individual rhythms that seem to transcend our genetic makeup and upbringing. Traditional Chinese medicine embraces a fivefold concept known as the Five Element or Five Phase Theory that help explain these rhythms. Traditional Chinese medicine points out that we all tend to be one predominant ‘type’ from among the five elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, though no one is one hundred percent one type alone. In this article we discuss both the in-balance and out-of-balance (maladapted) Wood type personality.

Wood-in-balance types derive an enormous amount of energy and vitality through maintaining a vision of their ideal future and what they can do to make that happen. They have a tendency to create independent lifestyles and to control their own futures.

They are pioneers and visionaries. These are their archetypes.

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Adapted or in-balance Wood type personalities are open to new ideas and trends and they recognize possibilities that others might never see. They make sure they are surrounded by a free environment that will foster their vision and creativity and support their breaking through to do things in their own way.

Balanced Wood type personalities know how to get around obstacles and part of their deft maneuvering includes establishing alternate plans and contingencies. Even when failures occur they usually and flexibly simply take another route or look for another direction—a tactic so supportive of change and transformation.

Balanced Woods know what works for them. They tend to be optimistic as they hold the vision of and hope for a future they’ve already seen.

Wood type personalities are self-directed and structured, organized and deliberate—qualities they find necessary to achieve their lofty goals. List and spreadsheet making are very often integral to their organization and planning although these can sometimes go too far with Wood where the need to plan and organize becomes excessive and annoying.

Seeing life as something to be conquered, instead of cooperating, Wood competes. But what Wood is really trying to do by competing is create a sense of control. Wood’s single most important ambition is to maintain a sense of control over life.

Out-of-balance Wood type personalities need direction and accountability to an authority figure. A mentor, teacher or leader who can provide maladapted Wood with a plan is often more than helpful as it provides this Wood type with much needed structure.

Frustration, anger, impatience, controlling behavior and combative conflicts are the toxic expressed emotions of the maladapted Wood type. Because Wood types are so hooked into their goals, they often abrasively confront or argue with anyone who they perceive is an obstacle on their path.

This personality aspect translates into Wood’s physical makeup which is often well muscled, strong and coordinated since Wood types cannot be swayed as they stand for what is right and just. Taken too far, Wood can be inflexible, sticking to a plan or belief no matter the cost. Trees may appear stiff and unbendable but they’re really quite flexible when they need to be and this is Wood’s challenge.

The Wood personality type is very often critical of everything but themselves. When Wood lacks this self-awareness, they cannot be honest with themselves. Should they feel they’ve been treated unfairly, they will neither forgive nor forget. They tend to hold grudges indefinitely. On the extreme end, this behavior describes a maladapted Wood type.

Wood types are often unable to tolerate injustice whether it is done to them or done to society as a whole. The Wood archetype is the Warrior which leads out-of-balance Wood away from angry outbursts and hostility into championing just causes. This helps Wood regain a sense of control in a world he views as uncertain and hostile. Warrior Wood works to right what is wrong and to forge changes that create hope for the future.

Wood’s virtues are forgiveness and patience. They stem from the innate vision and insight of the Wood type and they neutralize the negative angry emotions Wood can so easily feel.

The Warrior/Pioneer archetype is founded on the flourishing energy of the Wood element and the birth of yang energy in energetic Spring. Like well adapted Wood, yang energy is forceful and vigorous, warming and expansive.

From the new yang energy of Spring comes balanced Wood’s ability to initiate action, take decisive steps, express balanced emotion and to allow creativity to flow with new ideas, change, hope, vitality and optimism.

The Wood type personality is challenged to move from anger to insight and from frustration to patience. In order to do so, Wood must be flexible and honest with himself or herself.

Connect to the power of the Wood element this season of energetic Spring (February 5 to April 17) to rise above the chaos, reclaim your visionary self, see solutions where problems used to be and allow transformation to improve your life.

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Endnotes:

Moss, Charles A. Power of the Five Elements: The Chinese Medicine Path to Healthy Aging and Stress Resistance. United States, North Atlantic Books, 2011.

Image credit: pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4429136-2.jpg

Chili Pepper Ferment Extract: Potent In Skincare and Especially for Athletic People and Anyone Needing Better Blood Circulation

Chili pepper ferment extract is a unique ingredient in PHYTO5’s Wood element Yogi Body Gel specifically for its ability to help increase blood flow and create better absorption of Yogi Body Gel’s other ingredients on the skin’s surface. Only a tiny bit of extract is formulated into the product therefore the burning that many might associate with chili peppers is nonexistent. Studies show no 'meaningful irritation or contact dermatitis’ when chili pepper is formulated appropriately into skincare as it is in PHYTO5’s.

For the active athletic person, the fact that chili pepper ferment extract is a unique ingredient in Wood element Yogi Body Gel can be very important. This is because the capsaicin compound found in chili pepper has potent pain-relieving properties. In addition, chili (Capsicum frutesense) is a stimulant and thermogenic which means it actively helps encourage blood circulation thereby bringing oxygen and nutrients to the skin and also causing a feeling of warmth important for good athletic performance. Capsaicin is also a potent muscle relaxant.

The capsaicin compound in chili pepper functions as an external analgesic since it desensitizes neural pain receptors. This can also be an important consideration for those who are experiencing arthritic pain.

The ferment extract of chili pepper captures the full range of phytocompounds found in chili pepper making it very useful in skincare. Today’s cosmetics industry utilizes chili pepper as a fragrance ingredient and skin-conditioning agent. It is antimicrobial and antioxidant, both of which are extremely important for good skin health.

Chili pepper offers the following additional health benefits

• helps keep hair and skin healthy

• improves digestive health and metabolism

• fights fungal infections, colds and flu

• alleviates migraine headaches

• provides joint pain relief

• fights inflammation

• encourages greater cardiovascular health

• promotes red blood cell growth

• improves vision and overall ocular heath

In addition, studies suggest that chili pepper can decrease the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Because chili peppers are high in antioxidants, cartenoids,* and vitamin C, chili pepper helps regulate insulin. A number of Australian scientists found that a meal containing chili pepper can result in proper insulin production in the body that reduces blood sugar levels. (As documented in “Effects of chili consumption on postprandial glucose, insulin, and energy metabolism;” see endnotes for complete citation).

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Endnotes:

• Carotenoids are a class of phytonutrients ("plant chemicals”), mainly yellow, orange, or red fat-soluble pigments, including carotene, which give color to plant parts such as ripe tomatoes and autumn leaves; carotenoids are found in the cells of a wide variety of plants, algae and bacteria and help plants absorb light energy for use in photosynthesis. They also have an important antioxidant function of deactivating free radicals — single oxygen atoms that can damage cells by reacting with other molecules, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.**

** “Carotenoids.” Linus Pauling Institute, 1 Jan. 2021, lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/carotenoids.

“Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Capsicum Annuum Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Capsicum Annuum Resin, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Powder, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Capsicum Frutescens Resin, and Capsaicin1, 2007.” SAGE Journals, 1 Jan. 1984, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10915810601163939?journalCode=ijtb&. 

Ahuja, Kiran DK, et al. “Effects of Chili Consumption on Postprandial Glucose, Insulin, and Energy Metabolism.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 1 June 2006, academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/84/1/63/4633023. 

“Carotenoids.” Linus Pauling Institute, 1 Jan. 2021, lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/carotenoids. 

The Herb Absynthe Enjoys Its Resurgence As Potent Healer and Protector

Artemisia absinthium, a key ingredient in PHYTO5’s Wood element Yogi Body Gel, (also known as absynthe, absinthe or wormwood [Asteraceae]) is a very important species in the history of medicine. All parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicinal practices for hundreds of years.

Absynthe has a colorful history* but only because of misuse, abuse and misunderstanding of the herb used to create the spirit of the same name. The herb gained notoriety because of its use in absinthe, the French liqueur that became a favorite of many nineteenth century artists like the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Medicinal extracts of wormwood have not been shown to cause adverse effects at usual doses. For purposes of this article, we are referring only to the herb itself and not the alcoholic concoction.

Typically utilized in extract or tea form, its extract assists to balance the organs of the Wood element which are liver and gall bladder according to traditional Chinese medicine. Wormwood’s strong bitter agents–absinthin and anabsinthin–stimulate digestive and gall bladder function.

In European medicine, wormwood is used in both allopathy and homeopathy. In traditional Asian and European medicine, it has been used as an effective agent in gastrointestinal ailments. It is beneficial in supporting healthy flora in the digestive tract.

Wormwood is effectively used in the treatment of the following conditions:

• Crohn’s disease

• IgA nephropathy**

• indigestion

• poor digestion

• irritable bowel syndrome

• heartburn

• low stomach acidity

• parasites

• helminthiasis

• anaemia

• insomnia

• bladder diseases

• difficult-to-heal wounds

• fever.

Wormwood can be used as a good and bitter tonic stimulating menstruation, and treating fever, liver disease, depression, muscle pain, memory loss and loss of libido.

But in addition to medicinal uses, Artemisia absinthium is also enjoying a successful career as a cosmetic plant. Its extract is used in skin care cosmetics because of its wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Scientific research points to many additional properties of Wormwood:

• antiprotozoal(1)

• antibacterial

• antifungal

• anti-ulcer

• hepatoprotective(2)

• anti-inflammatory

• immunomodulatory(3)

• analgesic

• neuroprotective(4)

• anti-depressant

• procognitive

• neurotrophic(5)

• and cell membrane stabilizing and antioxidant activities.

Both absynthe’s flowers and leaves are used to create the extract. Artemisia absinthium grows naturally on uncultivated arid ground, on rocky slopes, and at the edge of footpaths and fields. With characteristic grayish white downy leaves and small yellow flower buds, the herb grows as a weed. The absinthe extract in Wood element Yogi Body Gel is actually grown and harvested very nearby to PHYTO5’s Swiss factory in Fleurier, Switzerland.

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Endnotes:

1. Fighting infections caused by protozoa (a single-celled microscopic animal)

2. Preventing damage to the liver

3. Cell-based immunotherapy

4. Serving to protect nerve cells against damage, degeneration, or impairment of function

5. Relating to the growth of nervous tissue

*It was once believed that the psychotropic activity and toxicity of absinthe were due to the thujone content, however modern analysis has demonstrated that only minor amounts of this compound were present, and the effects may have been due to the copper and antimony adulterants as well as the high ethanol content.

**Disease of the kidney and immune system

D.W.; Lachenmeier. “Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium L.)--a Curious Plant with Both Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Properties?” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20542104/. 

Szopa A;Pajor J;Klin P;Rzepiela A;Elansary HO;Al-Mana FA;Mattar MA;Ekiert H; “Artemisia Absinthium L.-Importance in the History of Medicine, the Latest Advances in Phytochemistry and Therapeutical, Cosmetological and Culinary Uses.” Plants (Basel, Switzerland), U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825178/. 

It’s Energetic Spring, Time to Focus on the Heart Chakra and Valentine’s Day

In esoteric wisdom, there are seven centers of spiritual and energetic power within the human body, each one with the energy of each of the seven different colors constituting the rainbow. These spinning wheels of light energy known as chakras are roughly located in alignment with the spine. The chakra in the area of the heart is associated most often with the color green. At PHYTO5, we formulate our skincare products according to the five element theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the element and color, respectively, associated with this time of year are Wood and green, a vital color of nature, growth, vitality, healing and opening. And coincidentally, we happen to be celebrating the love holiday we all call Valentine’s Day at this time.

The heart chakra is the point of balance of all the other chakras with three below and three above it. The three lower chakras are more ‘earth based’ (associated more with physical life and creation) while the three upper chakras are more spiritual (supporting the more mental, inspirational and spiritual aspects). The heart chakra is the bridge, the balance point that joins earth to spirit.

As of February 5 we enter the Wood season which is energetic Spring. It is a time when plant shoots begin to push through soil – a time of reawakening and rebirth caused by the unseen forces of potent energy of life and vitality.

TCM gives us many pointers for living in harmony with each of the five energetic seasons. For example, in energetic Spring, TCM directs us to cleanse our bodies after a long period of hibernation by consuming fresh green produce in various ways. Living greens bring more vitality to our bodies, our skin, our minds and even our hearts.

We want to bring green into our lives with plants and flowers, green gemstones, clothing, home decor and environment. Beginning to plan our Spring gardens, splashes of green in our home decor, and green accessories we might enjoy wearing can be a creative blessing when we put love into the planning. Our heart chakra energy becomes enhanced in the process.

Bringing green house plants into the home, for example, creates vitality producing negative ions in the air and helps neutralize negative energy in our environment. The mere act of intuitively decorating with green plants is an affirmation of where we would like green heart chakra energy to thrive in our home.

At this time when we are paying more attention to green’s healing powers, we may want to visualize our heart center’s emerald green color shining brightly and spilling out onto our entire body to do its intuitive healing work.

The aphorism, “as above, so below,” associated with sacred geometry and hermeticism and which derives from a passage in the Emerald Tablet (variously attributed to Hermes Trismegistus or Pseudo-Apollonius of Tyana) shows us that similar to us, Earth, too, has its own heart center. Especially at this time of year, allow the color of Earth’s heart center, the green matrix, to fill you to overflowing with its pure green healing and loving energy.

At this time of year when we celebrate Valentine’s Day and let our hearts grow effulgent with love and generosity for family, friends and romantic partners, remember your heart center and the lovelight that flows infinitely from it.

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Source:

Harding, Jenny. Secrets of Chakras. Chartwell Books, 2020.

The True Story of St. Patrick and the Holiday's Deeper Meaning for You

St. Patrick's Day represents more than the ancient folklore of snakes, shamrocks and the color green. It coincides with the promise of Spring. While the color green associated with holiday represents Ireland as emerald isle, the color green is a purifying, vitalizing color. And all of the metaphoric elements of the true story of St. Patrick hold meaning for your life and well-being.

The truth is, St. Patrick’s Day was more of a religious observance until Irish immigrants to the U. S. supercharged it.

“Until the 1700s, St. Patrick’s Day was a Roman Catholic feast only observed in Ireland—and without the raucous revelry of today’s celebrations. Instead, the faithful spent the relatively somber occasion in quiet prayer at church or at home. That started to change when Irish immigrants living in the United States began organizing parades and other events on March 17 as a show of pride.” —Jennie Cohen, St. Patrick’s Day Myths Debunked, history dot com

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The True Story of St. Patrick Being Associated with the Color Green

We can trace the wearing of green on St. Patrick’s Day to the eighteenth century. This is the point when backers of Irish independence took on the color to represent their cause. Before then, St. Patrick’s Day was not a day of green.

Coincidentally, the green of St. Patrick’s Day falls during traditional Chinese medicine’s (TCM’s) season of energetic Spring. The TCM element (out of five: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) associated with Spring is Wood. TCM also assigns the color green to energetic Spring and the Wood element.

The Truth About the Man Himself–St. Pat

"The modern celebration of St. Patrick's Day really has almost nothing to do with the real man," says Western culture professor Philip Freeman of Pepperdine University. 

Originally a Britt, Patrick was kidnapped and taken to Ireland. There he tended sheep as a slave in the chilly mountainous region of the country for seven years.

Not particularly religious before, he got religion in Ireland and became a devout Christian.

Next, he escaped his slavery to reunite with his family back home in England. But a message he received in a dream compelled him to return to Ireland.

He became a priest and later a bishop where, according to John Roach, author of St. Patrick's Day Facts: Shamrocks, Snakes, and a Saint, National Geographic Magazine. hewas:

“constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty, and admonished by his British superiors,”

Where Did the Shamrock Come From and What Does It Mean?

According to St. Patrick's Day lore, St. Pat used the leaves of the shamrock as a teaching metaphor to describe the Holy Trinity. But the shamrock custom emerged out of eighteenth century Irish nationalism and the 1798 Irish Rebellion against English colonialism.

The Irish adopted the symbol of the shamrock to memorialize St. Patrick’s Day because fervor for the holiday intensified at that time.

The True Story of the Snakes and St. Patrick

As for driving snakes out of Ireland, no evidence exists to prove an abundance of snakes existed anywhere in the region. The mythos seems more metaphorical than literal. Villains and non-believers at the time (fifth century A. D.) were considered snakes.

Today St. Patrick’s Day Looks Nothing Like It Did Centuries Ago.

 “For many people around the world, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a secular ode to Irish culture (or at least an oversimplified version of it), characterized by parties, music and iconic foods.” —Jennie Cohen, St. Patrick’s Day Myths Debunked, history dot com

In spite of the true story of St. Patrick’s Day, today’s merrymaking and revelry can bring a lightness to our spirits as Spring emerges from the dark. And along with that revelry we look forward to the gushing forth of new life and new possibilities.

Be sure to check out our Spring seasonal/Wood element line of skincare characterized by the color green.

Purify oily skin and blackheads, lighten hyperpigmentation and stimulate blood flow and vital energy. with the quantum energetic Wood line.

Essential oil-rich, it smells like invigorating Spring, purifies skin and also works to balance your emotions. Restore your confident true nature and march in those parades!

…

Cohen, Jennie. “St. Patrick's Day Myths Debunked.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Mar. 2012, www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-myths-debunked.

“St. Patrick's Day Facts: Shamrocks, Snakes, and a Saint.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 18 Mar. 2010, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100316-st-patricks-day-facts-shamrocks/.

It May Feel Like Winter but Chinese Medicine Proclaims It’s the Beginning of Spring: Check Out These Best Practices for Living in Harmony with Energetic Spring

In early February when traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tells us energetic Spring starts, it still feels very cold and wintry. The remnants of the Water energy of Winter potently linger. The powerful energy of Water is no longer proactive, but its momentum continues to produce manifestations of Winter even though we start to feel the energy of Wood and energetic Spring.

February 5 marks the start energetic Spring season and the new energy of Wood. As that proactive energy initiates, it takes some time before we actually feel its manifestations.

Nevertheless, nature begins to receive a new set of information resulting in progressive changes that we will begin to notice more or less rapidly depending on how strong the new Wood energy is. 

Just prior to February 5, we experienced an eighteen-day transition period of Earth between Water (Winter) and Wood (Spring).

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In TCM, the element represented by Spring is Wood. 

To live in balance with the 5-Element Theory of TCM and for that matter, to live in balance with nature of which we are an inherent part, we’ll want to embrace the following attributes, characteristics and specific organ activity for the Wood element and Spring season.

Here's a short list of best practices for Spring and the Wood element...

• The color for the Wood element is green. Freshen up your life by bringing green into it in all sorts of ways. Bring it into your diet and in your home decor.

• Liver and gall bladder are the organs associated with the Wood element. If you have liver or gall bladder issues and/or you have a Wood element imbalance, incorporate more of these tips into your daily life to help support these important internal organs.

• Indications of too much Wood chi which manifests as Wood imbalance include:

  • stiff muscles and joints

  • liver troubles

  • sallow or yellowish skin

  • panic attacks, hysteria

  • neck pain

  • stroke

  • anger, resentment, bitterness

  • lack of compassion

  • erratic behavior

  • low self-esteem

  • shouting, complaining, arguing

  • violence, abuse, incessant arguing.

• In addition to food, the following Wood element fragrances can be used and enjoyed to uplift and strengthen Wood chi and help create more balance in Wood:

  • lavender

  • orange, grapefruit

  • chamomile

• Certain green gemstones can also be used to assist the flow of Wood chi:

  • jade

  • emerald

  • green opal

• TCM-advised sound and breathing exercises for each element also help to bring balance where there was imbalance.  Since wind is the climactic element condition assigned to the Wood element, become more aware of your ‘wind’ by breathing more consciously.

  • Look into the qigong practice called “Marriage of Heaven and Earth” where liver and gall bladder organs receive healing and we become intimate with the primary energy principle known as pulsing. Pulsing teaches how all of creation including us pulses between yin and yang. The principle of pulsing is primarily linked to the Wood element where it is easiest to learn, embody and ground within us. 

  • For Wood, the healing sound is easy. It’s a long “Shhhh” – as in telling someone to be quiet. On the exhale of a deep breath, this sound will help to release anger and frustration. It can help to soften the person suffering with anger and at the same time assist to quell ailments in the liver and gall bladder. 

  • The five element healing sounds are actually breathing exercises that are best done every day at least five times a week, taking at least six deep breaths, the deeper the better. It is most beneficial to do the exercises outdoors where chi is fresh, preferably in the morning, with the sun shining on you from the East but they can most definitely be done indoors too.

  • You will want to inhale through your nose until your abdomen is full of fresh air and then exhale out through the mouth making the soft healing sound Shhhh. On the inhale, imagine positive chi entering your body and cleansing the negative chi and ailments in your body. On the exhale, imagine pushing out the negative chi and ailments.

• It is important to practice mindfulness and meditation at this Spring time of year to magnetize clarity of vision to ourselves, because the liver governs the health of the eyes and the clarity received applies both literally and figuratively. 

• The time is energetic Spring! Rise early with the sun and take brisk walks. Living in harmony with Spring will reawaken us after a long period of introspective, quiet and more slowly moving Winter.

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Sources:

Nguyen, Phil N. Feng Shui for the Curious and Serious. New Jersey: Xlibris Corporation, 2008. Print.

Thunderhawk, Denise, L. Ac. The 5-Element Guide to Healing with Whole Foods. N.p.: Lulu, 2016. Print.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published February 27, 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.