There are many ways to improve your sports performance, however, one method that is often overlooked and misunderstood is utilizing Eastern medicine. Unlike other methods of athletic development which tend to focus on muscular hypertrophy, as well as strength and speed, to utilize Eastern medicine to improve your sports performance you must understand the role of your organs.
From the perspective of Eastern medicine, your organs are interconnected with each other and every other part of your body. This is why we must ensure that they are functioning optimally so that you are able to perform when you play sports.
In this blog post, we will cover how your body is interconnected with the health of your liver, kidneys, stomach, and spleen, and how that relates to sports performance.
Your Liver & Your Joints
In Eastern medicine, your liver is responsible for the overall flow of Qi, or internal energy, that you constantly have running through you. In addition to that, the liver is also related to the health of your ligaments, tendons, and joints. When your internal energy cannot flow freely due to energy blockages, it is known as Qi stagnation. This can manifest as health problems, but also stiffness in your joints.
Furthermore, mental and emotional stress can interfere with your liver and your flow of Qi, therefore managing your mental health can help you maintain the health and performance of your joints.
Your Kidneys & Your Bones
While your liver is linked with your joints, your kidneys are related to the health of your bones, bone marrow, and blood production. In Eastern medicine, for one body part to function optimally everything else needs to as well. Furthermore, proper blood circulation is a key component of your overall health from this perspective. Since strong bones and proper blood circulation are directly related to how you perform and recover, you must prioritize the health of your kidneys.
To maintain the health of your kidneys, you can eat a balanced diet of whole foods that mitigate the risk of kidney disease and high blood pressure.
Your Stomach & Your Muscles
In Eastern medicine, your muscles rely on the functions of your stomach and spleen. From this perspective, your stomach and spleen are responsible for nourishing your muscles with nutrients from digested food as blood, as well as Qi. When your spleen is overworking, it could also cause your muscles to feel weak, and your movements to feel sluggish.
To ensure your spleen isn’t overworking, avoid an excess of sugary foods and cold drinks. You can also avoid processed and refined foods to maintain the health of your stomach.
Maintaining the health of your joints, bones, and muscles is an essential part of performing well and mitigating the risk of injury, and in Eastern medicine this can’t be done unless you maintain the health of your liver, kidneys, stomach, and spleen.
If you’re an athlete dedicated to sports performance, you’ve already addressed your strength and conditioning, but have you considered how Eastern medicine can give you an edge that other athletes aren’t taking advantage of? Contact us today to learn more!
