This blog post is going to focus on Chinese medicine and the spring season. This spring series will be broken up into three parts:
Spring Series Table of Contents:
The Basic Concept
According to Chinese Medicine, Spring is the time of year where yin begins its transition into yang. Winter is transitioning into Summer. All of nature is emerging from hibernation out of the depths of yin and moving upwards and outwards toward the sun, which is the height of yang, leading into Summertime. Spring is a time of moving qi, allowing new growth and a period of growing towards maturity. The characteristics of this season are green, the element is Wood, the associated organs are the Gallbladder and Liver and the emotion is anger.
Green is the color of the season as nature starts to flourish again. Spring is the element of Wood representing the growth of plants sprouting from their own time of reflection during winter and finally growing into what they are.
In Chinese Medicine the Liver and Gallbladder are responsible for moving qi throughout the entire body. They are vulnerable to stress and can depress or constrain this energy when it is meant to move. The more constrained one’s energy gets, the more irritated or angry we can become which is why the primary emotion for spring and the Wood element is anger. When we can’t grow or have the freedom to expand, we feel held back and depressed. These feelings of depression and being held back are the energies that the Liver and Gallbladder are trying to move within your body.
One of the secrets for living a healthy life is to live according to the seasons. For Spring, this means to get moving again as the weather warms. Drink fresh green juices, stretch and take time to soothe your system from stress. Allow your feelings to flow as freely as they need to. The Liver and Gallbladder is a decisive energy with long term plans and a vision for the future. Take this time to decide how you want to grow for your future and take time to see our cherry blossoms grow.
Tips for Healthy Spring
The energy of Spring is movement and it is especially strong this time of year. This can lead to heightened feelings of being stuck, irritability and frustration which in turn makes you even more vulnerable to stress and a lack of resilience to stressful events over time. Here are some tips to align your qi with the season.
Move your body
With the warmer weather, don’t fight the urge to walk and wander. Enjoy and breathe in deeply this new found freedom that this change of season is bringing. This will help move your qi and soothe and settle your emotions as well.
Support your Liver/Gallbladder
Add fresh green juice to your diet daily. Organic and seasonal if possible. If you can’t do it yourself, there are plenty of options at the grocery store! Fresh, green vegetables are the color and foods of the liver that keep it running smoothly. This helps your liver run efficiently as it continues to detox your entire body and move your qi throughout.
Emotions
Anger, stress and irritability are the hallmark feelings of this element. Deep breathing and finding ways for yourself to feel enough space for you and your feelings will help alleviate emotional congestion. If you have a strong constitution with this element, stress will not affect you negatively easily and a strong ambitious/decisive drive to get things done. A weaker constitution will have more trouble physically and emotionally handling stress as it is too much pressure on their system. Decision making may be difficult or not able to make or keep plans for themselves. Use this season to get in touch with your inner thoughts and feelings and how you want to be in the outside world. This will help make your feelings more resilient and strengthen your inner drive.
Sleep
Having enough time and high quality sleep is essential for good health. This is a vital time for the liver to rest and detox your body from the day. Your organs need this time to process and to rest. Peak liver time is 1am to 3am. If you are waking during this time then your liver does not have enough time to rest and rebuild. Your nervous system needs this time to reset to parasympathetic mode so you do not live in a high stress energy constantly further taxing your liver/gallbladder. All living things sleep, it is a priority all times of the year.
Seasonal Foods for Spring
Foods to Avoid
The Liver and Gallbladder are vulnerable to fatty and greasy foods. An overabundance of these types will slow down the function of these organs and in turn slow down the rest of your system. Also avoid overeating as this overwhelms your system. Reduce alcohol intake during this season since these organs have a difficult time processing alcohol and will restrict the movement of qi in your body. Sour is the flavor of the liver and gallbladder, so avoid overuse of lemon, vinegar, and sour apples. However, be sure to add a sour flavor to your meals 2-3 times a week to keep your liver running smoothly.
Foods to Add
Goji berries help with liver blood which goes to the eyes and allows us to see in color according to Chinese Medicine. Beans are a great addition to your diet, especially mung beans. Green vegetables, green fruits, green spices, green anything is good for the Liver and Gallbladder because green is the color of the season. Add as much green foods as you can to help your body detox, run smoothly, and get the vital nutrients that it needs for these organs to function. Eat organic and fresh as much as possible to help prevent overtaxing your Liver of chemicals.
Last of all, acupuncture is one of the best ways to keep your Liver system healthy. Spring is the best time of year to come in to address any energetic/emotional or physical feelings of being stuck.
I hope you enjoyed reading this series as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you. Happy Spring!
About the Author
As a practitioner and healer in Washington, DC for more than a decade, I take a patient-centered approach to care through acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicines, and mind-body coaching, with a specialty in full-spectrum reproductive health care.
