Spring in all its colorful and fragrant glory
Spring has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere in all its colorful and fragrant glory! It is a transition from yin to yang and a time of renewal and creativity. Spring is nature's time where everything is green and innovation becomes bountiful. It is a time of creation, development, regeneration, and new growth. It can be a time for revitalization and reflection of perspectives of fresh ideas and intentions as energies awaken into this new season.
Spring is represented by wood
In the Chinese Medicine Five Element theory, spring is represented by wood. The wood element pertains to the liver and gallbladder. It governs muscles, tendons, ligaments, eyes, tears, and nails. In this system the other symbolic connections are:
the color green,
the flavor of sour,
the direction of east – where the sun rises marking the creation of a new day,
the climate of wind – clearing the old and bringing in the new air,
the emotion of anger,
the sound of shouting,
the quality of growth,
and the time of morning.
The element of wood refers to living and growing entities such as trees, plants and the human body. It represents growing structures like the roots, trunks, and limbs for trees and plants as well as the spine, limbs, and joints of the human body. Strength and flexibility are strong themes of this element. The wood element creates our mental clarity and ability to focus, plan, and make decisions. This element gives spiritual faculty to living. The liver is the home of the soul. It is also responsible for incredible life supporting physiological processes biologically speaking. The nature of the liver is regenerative in both holistic traditions as well as biomedical considerations.
Imbalances caused by the season
From the standpoint of Chinese Medicine and holistic perspectives, there are specific ailments common in this season connected to the imbalances of the wood element. Interestingly enough, they are all imbalances of the symbolic representations of this element and season. These imbalances in the human body can result in spinal problems, neck and back tension, poor flexibility, headaches, and sometimes muscle fatigue and weakness. Since the wood element rules over the eyes and is a time of overexposure to wind we start to see an increase in allergies especially with watery and red irritated eyes, sensitivities, inflammation, sinus issues, and skin problems. Of course, all this is exacerbated further by all the new growth and fresh pollen! Emotionally and mentally, an imbalance can look like irritability, anger, poor judgement, inability to make decisions and plan, and frustration.
Spring is a time to cleanse your body
Fortunately, within these considerations we also have some insight on proactive solutions and ways to avoid such imbalances. Spring is a time when you want to cleanse your body and your liver from the stagnation and dormancy of winter. It is time to eat a little lighter and to increase activity. Moving your body and increasing exercise so you sweat regularly will help detox your liver along with drinking more fluids and water. Add some lemon to your water to help support liver detoxification. This can be a perfect time to do some sort of gentle and basic cleansing or a more focused detox cleanse with your favorite practitioner. In consideration of detoxing, you also want to avoid and/or reduce toxins, sugars, alcohol, and basic overindulgences.
In every season food is medicine
Eating the produce that is fresh and in season at your local farmers market is ideal with an emphasis on leafy greens, lettuces, sprouts, and live vital foods. Foods that are associated with freshening, cleansing, and building the body. Eating more green foods increases our intake of chlorophyll into our systems and our blood. This is extremely beneficial in oxygenating and purifying our blood thus reducing systemic inflammation. This can be accomplished by taking a supplement or simply by eating more green foods. Bee pollen and local honey are ideal for spring and can be super helpful at naturally reducing the symptoms and root causes of allergies. Chickweed, dandelion, nettles, milk thistle, and peppermint are some of the best springtime herbs for cleansing and smoothing the liver, calming symptoms of allergies, and to quell irritability. These herbs can be used in decoctions and teas as well as infused into recipes and favorite dishes and salads. Acupuncture and cupping are also wonderful ways to support the detoxification and cleansing of the liver and the body, and these modalities excel at treating allergies and the body at this time. It has an affinity for keeping the liver energies flowing.
Indulge in nature
This is also an important time to spend in nature, start a garden or visit one, and to implement some spring cleaning of home, mind and body. Think of a balanced wood element and spring season as one with beginnings, exercise, greens, nature, creativity, and enthusiasm. An imbalance of wood and a less than ideal spring would look like excess (vs balance), congestion, laziness, overindulgence, anger, frustration, and stagnant patterns.
This season is a time for inspiration and vision to be materialized into the world!
