Spring & The Eyes

Spring is the season that is associated with the Liver in Chinese medicine. What we do during the spring months can have a lasting effect on our health. Did you know that our eyes are connected to the Liver channel and organ?  Yes, the eyes and the health of our liver are closely related. The eyes are known as the window of the soul and everyone wants the clearest most beautiful eyes possible. The eyes are the flower of the liver and the season associated with the liver is spring. Healthy clear eyes is synonymous with good health. Acupuncture, food therapy and Herbal combination can reverse stagnation and aid the Liver, beautify the eyes reverse many disorders such as digestive discomfort, joint pain, lack of energy and lethargy, mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, and more. Chinese medicine treatments can correct most meridian imbalances that can later cause diseases if ignored. The liver can also effect many other areas of health, including the mind and the emotions. Eye problems are directly connected to the liver and can fall into one of these three liver imbalances: Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver Heat or Fire and Liver Wind. Liver stores blood and is responsible for energy and detoxification of the harmful substances that we accumulated throughout life.

Foods known to tonify Liver Blood are spirulina, chlorophyll rich foods like dark green leafy vegetables, dark grapes, blackberries, huckleberries, blackstrap molasses, gelatin, artichokes, beets, dandelion, kelp, avocados, dates, black sesame seed, oysters, free range chicken soup, fertile organic eggs, grass fed beef and organic grass fed animal liver.

Foods that Cool liver heat or extinguish liver fire are mung beans, mung sprouts, celery, seaweed, watercress, arugula, millet and sorghum, blueberries, artichokes, mushrooms, rhubarb, radish, daikon radish and goji berries. Chrysanthemum flower tea is known to clear liver heat and benefit the eyes, especially in cases of allergies, red, itchy watery eyes, painful dry eyes and blurry vision.

To Extinguish liver wind it’s advised to use foods, herbs and spices such as celery, basil, sage, fennel, ginger, anise, cumin, dandelion, organic sprouted oats, black seed oil, sesame seed, pine nuts, coconut oil, fresh cold-pressed flax oil, fish oil, lemon, mints and chamomile teas.
Food known to worsen conditions associated with the liver and the eyes are bell peppers, eggplant, certain nuts, such as peanuts and cashews, fried foods, alcohol, sodas, sugar, starches such as bread, desserts and processed foods.

A qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine can identify which organ or channel disharmony is impacting your liver and consequently your eyes and can give you the best treatment including acupuncture to move stagnation out of the meridians and promote healing, dietary suggestions to nourish your body correctly to support the liver and herbal supplementation to rectify disorders and promote long term optimal health and longevity.


Lina Yerkes L.Ac