Spring Fatigue? What to do about it Besides Adrenal Support.

The days are getting brighter and warmer but are you feeling more tired? It's weird because you are getting the same number of hours of sleep but still feel tired. What can you do about it?
 
Here are a couple Reasons for Spring Fatigue:
 
Maladjusted Circulation
During the winter, animals hibernate. In humans the capillaries on the surface of the skin constrict more so that more blood flow goes to the organs and brain when it is colder. These physiological cycles can occur even if you are living in places were there is not very extreme temperature   fluctuations. During the spring, the capillaries open up more on the surface of the skin and more blood is directed to the periphery. During the time of adjustment, the shunting of blood to the surface reduces blood flow to the brain and organs making you feel more tired until your body adjusts. There are supplements that can help improve circulation. Exercise can help improve your oxygen capacity, allowing more oxygen to oxygenate your cells, helping you feel more awake and energized.
  
Qi Stagnation
Qi stagnation is another common reason for fatigue, especially if you momentarily feel better after you move. You have various meridians (energy channels) that supply your organs. For example, you have a liver, spleen, kidney, heart, lung and intestinal meridians (just to name a few). If there is a traffic jam at a certain point in the meridian, the traffic moves slower. This stuck-ness is called qi stagnation. If there is stuck-ness, energy cannot flow and you have reduced function. Achy pain is also characteristic of Qi stagnation.
 
Many patients feel much better overall and have improved energy after we correct qi stagnation. You can have qi stagnation in the liver but not in the lung meridian, for example, so it is helpful to determine which areas have stagnation in your case. For example:
 
-Qi stagnation to the heart can result in fatigue, heart palpitations, and insomnia.

-Qi stagnation to the spleen (digestion) can result in fatigue, hair loss, bloating, and digestive issues.
 
-Qi stagnation to the liver can result in fatigue, frustration, feeling stuck in life, and headaches.
 
What contributes to qi stagnation? Overthinking, using the brain too much, prolonged periods of certain emotions (frustration, worry, disappointment, self-criticism, resentment ect.), lack of movement, eating too much sugar and carbs, and an office job can all contribute to qi stagnation.
 
It is very common to go to adrenal support supplements to address adrenal fatigue when fatigue is an issue. However, if you have little improvement with adrenal supplements may want to look into other issues that contribute to fatigue. It would be nice to feel good and have the energy so that you are not behind or overwhelmed with day to day activities. Feel free to reach out to me and I would be happy to help you.
 

Emotions and the Liver

What Emotions are Related to the Liver?

According to the Chinese, one of the functions of the liver is to make sure qi moves in harmony throughout the body. Qi can be thought of as energy, vital force or substance. Qi is the essence of life. The liver helps move qi up and down the body and harmonizes it. The flow of qi is also greatly related to the emotions. When the liver works well and qi flows free and unrestrained, then one feels happy, creative, focused with a calm mind.

Liver qi Stagnation:Photo Credit aJ Gazman

Liver Qi Stagnation can result in emotions of heaviness in the chest, depression, obsessive thoughts or sensation of overwhelm. Exercise and movement of the body is always a great way to dissipate any type of stagnation.

Hyperactive Liver Qi:

Hyperactive Liver Qi can result in emotions of anger, frustration, irritability and disturbed sleep. Calming and detoxifying activities are helpful to balance a hyperactive liver qi state. Consult Dr. Emily Chan ND for more specific personalized protocols to support your liver or constitutional imbalances. 

Please See My Previous Blog Article for Herbs that Support the Liver.

The Liver and Mindset Patterns:

Here are some insights based on numerology and spiritual teachers about imbalances involving the liver. Numerology is a study that connects certain themes to numbers. Each English Alphabet is assigned a number, for example, A=1, B=2, C=3 and so forth. The numbers are added up based on alphabets that make up a word and then the numbers are reduced to a single digit. Below are certain themes for some conditions related to the liver. Use these to guide your healing because they may be areas that open up insight to your journey in life and health. 

Alcoholism (44/8 Numerology Number) Alcoholism relates to difficulty standing up for personal beliefs. There may be a tendency to either abusing power or the opposite of that which is fear of using healthy empowerment from within. High expectations can lead to overwhelm which then lead to procrastination often results in internalized or externalized anger towards self or others.

Liver Cancer (56/11/2 Numerology Number) The liver is a place that is a filter for our emotions as well as a garbage collector of emotions. Liver cancer is associated with feelings of inadequacy, lack of emotional intimacy and difficulty releasing or expressing emotions. There is also a tendency to frustration over knowing and seeing what ought to be, but being unable or having no control over making them what ought to be.

Cirrhosis: (55/1 Numerology Number) Cirrhosis is associated with the energy of resistance to change or moving forward which leads to being stuck. The stagnation results in dead liver cells hanging around and hardening. Another reason for the stagnation may be due to loss of direction and bearings of where they are in life, so that they are caught between being frozen and moving forward in life.

Liver Issues in General including Toxicity may be related to a theme of being stagnant and stuck in life, not sure a greater purpose is. There may be a deep sense of loss or depression over not fulfilling something meaningful, which stems from not valuing yourself. When one cannot value and love themselves, it is also difficult to value and truly love others which can result in people pleasing behaviors that often end in frustration and resentment. 

To remedy these patterns:

1. Start knowing your worth.
2. Value and Love Yourself
3. Tap into gifts you already have and how your uniqueness can solve a problem
4. Focus on doing good out of love and not from a place of need
5. When you focus on solving a problem or connecting to a greater purpose…and if you can get to a place where solving that problem is greater than your fear, you will move forward with momentum, freedom and joy.

If you are looking for herbs and foods that support the biochemical detoxification of the liver, please see my other blog post here. 

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