Perimenopause & Detoxification
Perimenopause: Our Metal Years
Please head over to our 7 Year Cycle blog post to learn more about how we move and change through our life cycles following the language of The Five Elements.
We first begin to transition into our Metal years in our 5th life cycle (age 35-41). If we've leaned into strong rejuvenation practices in our 5th life cycle, we lay the groundwork into a healthy menopause (7th life cycle & beyond).
Your Metal phase continues through your 40s; our 6th life cycle (ages 42-48). Because Metal seeks clarity above all things, this may be the time that latent challenges resurface, asking to be resolved.
For lack of a better word, we'll use the word Perimenopause which basically means the time before menopause. It is not a disease or disorder. It's just a name for a phase. Perimenopause is known as one of our "3 Golden Opportunities" because our Jing allocation is shifting to gradually move into our post reproductive years.
The theme of our 6th Life Cycle which is basically our 40s, is all about Detoxification. Just to be clear, this is not the extreme western definition of detoxification. You do not need to go on a "cleanse" or apply self-inflicted suffering to achieve this. In Chinese Medicine, your body is deeply cared for in a harmonious way to achieve the movement, clearing and discharge of excess patterns.
Focus on the Liver Organ & Meridian
There are three organs that govern our reproductive functioning; Kidney, Spleen & Liver. The Kidney & Spleen organs naturally start to slow down as we age and so the Liver takes the front seat during our Metal years. This almost seems purposeful. We must clear away stagnations and lighten the load in order to move through the next life cycle full of vibrancy and vitality. Our Metal years are truly an “opportunity” to lean into our bodies’ wisdom.
Wisdom of the Liver Organ
Liver craves freedom of movement; flow
Liver craves softness and deep nourishment. It holds blood and in times of undernourishment, it can affect emotions, digestion and heat conditions.
Anger is the emotion associated with the liver organ. The Liver is responsible for emotional wellbeing in general. Ensure that you’re able to express and metabolize emotions.
The Long Game & Gentle Detox
Fasting isn’t the only way to help your body detox. Certain foods, enjoyed on a regular basis will gently clear away excesses without injuring your body. Strive for 50-60% of your diet being plant based. Avoid any extreme dieting since your body will register this as a stressor.
Six Naturally Detoxifying Foods
Seaweed: Cools and moisturizes the body while detoxifying the lymphatic system. It helps to dissolve excess phlegm and areas of hardness.
Adzuki Beans: Helps clear away water retention, detoxifies and moves the blood.
Mung Beans: Great at clearing heat and toxins from the body.
Green Tea: Harmonizes digestion, cools heat and clears away dampness in the intestines.
Job’s Tears: This amazing food herb helps to transform damp accumulation in the body and nourishes the skin at the same time.
Daikon Radish: Excellent for food stagnation, clears away phlegm and heat.
TCM Culinary Tonic Bags
Easily add the therapeutic value of herbs into your soups, porridges and teas. These blends help to clear away damp buildup in the body and nourishing the liver meridian & organ.
Regulate Bowel Movements
The regularity of your bowels is a huge indicator of your health. In Chinese Medicine, your small and large intestines are responsible for separating the clear from the turbid. The turbid is then released from the body. To help your body’s natural built-in detoxification pathways, ensure your bowels are moving, daily.
On an empty stomach, perform a colonic massage on your bare abdomen with some of your favorite oil blends. You can do it every morning or night, or both if you’d like. If you tend towards looser stools, use an open palm and go counterclockwise. Here’s a video demo:
Move your Qi
Help your body to circulate the six stagnations efficiently. The six stagnations are Qi, Blood, Food, Dampness, Phlegm and Heat. Any aggressive type of exercise or activity may aggravate constraint of any one of these. Instead, choose movement practices that circulate but also build strong muscles and bones.
Here’s some general guidelines:
Limit intense type workouts and when implemented, limit those to 15-20 minutes
If you’re a runner, do shorter sprints interspersed with walking
Try not to workout until the point of exhaustion. You body will register this as stress. You should feel energized when finished
Start to incorporate calm, relaxed walking everyday. Walking is the only type of exercise that is proven to support longevity. It is gentle on the body and circulates your qi.
Find a gentle daily practice to move your qi, that is easy on your bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Things like yoga, qigong, tai chi, etc.
Context & Support
To help you understand this life cycle in poetic context of The Five Elements, I created a self study e-course called Alchemy of Perimenopause :: When Earth Bears Metal. Please head over to our course page in the link above to learn more or simply purchase below. Blessings.
