Jupiter Plant Medicine

As Thanksgiving festivities draw to a close and we approach the rest of the holiday season here in the U.S., we are experiencing a time when the wisdom and teachings of our Jupiter plant allies are essential. 

Jupiter is a giant gas planet, synonymous with radiant and expansive energy. He imparts abundance and generosity, luck and growth. Jupiter has been equated to a king, but in the spirit of the holiday season, we can imagine our king Jupiter as similar to our commercial vision of Santa Claus: big, round, cheery, and generous with his gifts. 

The holiday season is generally a time of expressing our positive Jupiter traits of generosity and benevolence and celebrating the abundance in our lives with those we love. Since Jupiter has an expansive quality and thus a tendency of “overdoing it,” Jupiter energy can also make us susceptible to overindulgence and overconsumption of things like food, alcohol, and material goods.

This overindulgence can have a negative effect on the organs ruled by Jupiter: the liver and arterial system. The liver has many vital functions in the body, including detoxification of alcohol, medications, and other substances; glucose regulation; cholesterol and triglyceride production; bile synthesis (necessary for fat and fat-soluble vitamin absorption); thyroid hormone conversion; blood volume regulation; and production of coagulation factors. 

If food intake is excessive or loaded with high-carbohydrate foods or alcohol, this places a burden on the metabolic capacities of the liver, promoting excess anabolism which results in elevated glucose and cholesterol levels. This ultimately leads to organ stagnation and poor detoxification due to accumulated metabolic wastes and congested hepatic routes of elimination. Liver stagnation often reveals itself in the skin with acne, eczema, and other eruptions and dermatoses, as the body wisely attempts to use the skin as a toxin-excreting emunctory since the liver is stressed and overtaxed. If the liver’s burden is continued over time, clinical conditions such as fatty liver, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity can occur.

Jupiter also rules the arteries, which travel from the heart to provide nourishment (oxygen and nutrients) to the organs and tissues of the body. They are prone to getting ‘clogged’ in the presence of high cholesterol and high blood sugar, resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. 

Psychospiritually, Jupiter energy helps us align with our higher purpose. It enthuses us with optimism, joy, and trust in the Universe, expanding our awareness and providing us with the confidence to pursue our dreams and visions. If Jupiter energy is imbalanced, we can become discouraged and feel as if our life lacks direction, or alternatively, we may become overly confident and irresponsible.

JUPITER PLANT ALLIES

Plants that encourage beneficial Jupiter qualities consist primarily of bitter alterative herbs that support detoxification, promote bile secretions, and thus treat the damp stagnation tissue state associated with Jupiter excess, including liver stagnation and certain types of cardiovascular disease. These herbs often have an affinity to the liver and can promote healthy hepatic metabolism. Bitter alteratives include Burdock root (Arctium lappa), Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), Yellow Dock root (Rumex crispus), and Oregon Grape root (Mahonia aquifolium). Beyond their physical teachings, these plants also help move stagnant emotional energy, expand our consciousness, allow us to clearly visualize our aspirations, and help us find the confidence we need to move forward with our ambitions.

If you could use some liver rescue during the holiday season or you just want to learn from Jupiter’s plant allies, check out my Jupiter detox tea recipe below!