Introducing the Radiant Sun Acupuncture Newsletter!

April 2019 Newsletter

Did you know that a lot of painful conditions arise from an unhealthy diet and digestion?  

Whenever a new patient comes to me, I first gather as much information as I can about the person’s primary concern, which is usually pain.  I then ask a series of questions about their eating habits and lifestyle.  Most of the time, I discover that the person is eating a typical American diet that is filled with foods and beverages that harm the spleen.  In Chinese Medicine, the spleen is the main organ of digestion and is responsible for the distribution of nutrients throughout the body.  The spleen is in charge of the strength of the muscles.  The emotion of the spleen is “thought”, which is translated as “worry.”  When we eat foods that harm the spleen, we end up with weaker muscles and anxiety, which cause physical and emotional pain.  We also tend to crave sugary foods because the taste of the spleen is sweet, and the spleen tries to fix itself by making us want sugar.  Unfortunately, the spleen cannot digest too much sweetness.  The best foods for the spleen are warm and bland.  So if you discover that you’re having pain or anxiety, you should first look to your diet to see if you can make any of the following changes to help out your spleen:

  • Cut out coffee.

  • Reduce and/or eliminate sugary foods, including bananas.  If you are craving sugar, try substituting in fruits (other than bananas).

  • Switch out cold beverages and foods (cold foods include salads!) for at least two warm meals a day and room temperature (or warmer) beverages.

  • Start moving.  We are built to move and the spleen loves exercise.

  • Cut out spicy foods, which damage the spleen.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can help out your spleen, or if you’re in pain or having digestive or anxiety problems, please contact Julie Grogan, M.S.A., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. at Radiant Sun Acupuncture - (585) 880-3799.

Julie Grogan