Are You Ready to Thrive?

So I've done a lot of talking about the Spleen, in particular its sibling-like relationship with the Liver.  Today I want to give you a few ideas of things you can do at home that will strengthen your Spleen which will in turn give you:

• better digestion
• clearer thinking
• weight gain or weight loss (depending on what your body needs)
• no more diarrhea
• and much more!

Let's start by discussing diet.  The flavor of the Spleen is sweet.  However, this doesn't mean that we should go out and eat all the sugar we can find. In fact, this damages the Spleen further.  What we need is foods that are "sweet-ish" while providing a ton of nutrients.  Some common foods for strengthening the Spleen are:

• Sweet Potatoes
  
• Carrots
• Beef
• soups
• warm, cooked foods (they're easier on the Spleen to digest)
• ginger

The color of the Spleen is yellow.  Orange and brown can also be a part of the Spleen color family due to their "earthy" tones.  When looking at the above list of foods, notice how many of them fit this color-scheme.  MOST of them!  So when planning your diet, consider adding some of these colors!  Also consider surrounding yourself with something in the Spleen's color-family.  A yellow shirt? A necklace with yellow beads? Be creative!

The emotions of the Spleen are worry and over-analyzing on the negative end and feeling at peace on the positive side of the spectrum.  If you're feeling stressed out by something, try not to over-analyze it.  It is what it is.  This isn't to say that you shouldn't work to change things, but don't get bogged down by negative details.

Earth is the element of the Spleen.  Connect with the earth element!  Go for a hike in a wooded area - just make sure that the path you're taking is dirt, not concrete!

Below are some stretches that you can do in order to stimulate the Spleen (and its spouse channel, the Stomach).  Sit in a kneeling position with your buttocks on your feet.  Place your hands on the floor next to your feet.  As you slowly inhale, lean back towards the floor as far as you can comfortably go, letting your head drop back.  Upon exhale, lift yourself back to the starting position.  Repeat 5 times.

Consider omitting excess sugars from your life.  They damage your Spleen by bogging it down. 

And finally, love your Spleen!  It does some hard work digesting foods for you!