Stomach/Spleen Health

Stomach/Spleen Health

What does it really mean to take care of your Stomach/Spleen health?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Stomach and its partner the Spleen, is most affected by chronic worry, anxiety, or overthinking. The Stomach is responsible not only for digesting food and drink, but also for digesting your emotions and thoughts, keeping what nurtures your spirit and letting go of what doesn’t!

The Stomach/Spleen element is Earth. Just as Mother Earth’s job is to nurture growth and all living creatures, Stomach Qi is what “feeds” all the organs enough power to perform their jobs. The spleen is also associated with the color yellow and the emotions of worry, overthinking or anxiety. The taste associated with the spleen is sweet. When our spleen becomes depleted from worry or not functioning properly due to an unhealthy diet we feel run down or develop fatigue, which may eventually manifest as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or autoimmune disease.

In allopathic medicine, the spleen is actually a lymph gland that stores white blood cells to support our immune system and the pancreas is an endocrine gland which regulates insulin to break down sugars or glucose into energy readily available to your body. If you have a 'sweet tooth' that is a sign of imbalance in the stomach and spleen channel. The antidote to cravings of sweet are to take bitters, such as Jackass Bitters. Many older cultures say 'bitters are better' and they take their bitter tonics on a daily basis to keep the stomach and spleen in check and balanced.

JACKASS BITTERS ~ 

Jackass bitters is a common yellow flowering herb that grows throughout Central America and the Caribbean. The entire plant is a highly respected medicinal used to treat a variety of ailments including the following: intestinal parasites, colds, flus, infections, skin ulcers and stubborn sores, vaginitis, adult-onset diabetes, candida, fungus, ringworm, amoebas and malaria. If you are interested, you can get a bottle of Jackass Bitters at Agape Healing arts.

BALANCE THE EARTH ELEMENT WITHIN ~

So let us focus on how we can balance our earth element within our bodies and help ourselves reclaim our natural state of health. We can take our 'bitters' every day as a tonic. We can spend more time connecting with Mother Nature by gardening, walking barefoot or laying down to relax at the beach. Sitting and moving meditation is medicine for our body-mind. Mindfulness practices such as MBSR (Mindfulness based Stress Reduction), Centering Prayer, contemplation, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are the antidote to our modern day busy monkey minds.

Simple Tips for Everyday Stomach/Spleen Health:

1. MEDITATE DAILY

We must learn to become the master of our own minds.   Meditation is a tool to help us achieve that.

2. EAT GOD'S FOOD (CLOSE TO NATURE)

You are what you eat. So eat healthy, clean, organic and non-GMO foods focusing on live foods, such as fruits and vegetables, avoiding empty caloric intake of processed foods, to enjoy a more healthy balanced life filled with high energy and plenty of vitality.

3. SING ~ SMILE ~ FEEL JOY IN YOUR HEART

Get in the habit of singing or whistling “Don’t Worry Be Happy" Bobby McFerrin, while you work. Joy is a very high vibration and will alleviate low vibrations such as worry, anxiety, pain and fear.

4. HONOR THE FEMININE PRINCIPLE

Reclaiming the Divine Mother/Feminine principle. Connect to the Earth. Mother Nature serves as our greatest healer. Honoring Nature is honoring our Mother.

5. TAKE YOUR BITTERS

Bitter herbs or food will help you cleanse your blood and keep your stomach and spleen healthy and balanced.