Spring has officially sprung!
With it comes a transition of lifestyle and rhythms different than those of winter. Spring is nature's birthing season, where green and newness becomes abundant. It is a time of creation, development, regeneration, new growth, and where day equals night. It heralds a six-month period of daylight, the sun, and the yang principle known in Chinese Medicine that will be dominating our lives here in the northern hemisphere. It is a time for fresh starts and for reflection on our lives from the perspective of new ideas and exciting plans as energies ramp up.
In Chinese Medicine’s Five Element theory, spring is represented by wood.
The wood element pertains to the liver and gallbladder and it governs muscles, tendons, ligaments, eyes, tears, and nails. In this system, other symbolic connections are the color green, the flavor of sour, the direction of east where the sunrise marks the new day, the climate of wind clearing the old and bringing in new air, the emotion of anger, the sound of shouting, and the quality of growth. The element of wood rules over the morning and refers to living and growing entities such as trees, plants, and the human body. It represents growing structures, the roots, trunks, and limbs for trees 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 the 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.
From the standpoint of Chinese Medicine and holistic perspectives, there are specific ailments common in this season. Interestingly enough, they are all imbalances of the symbolic representations of this element and season. Wood 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 it 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, a wood imbalance can look like irritability, anger, poor judgement, inability to make decisions and plan, and frustration.
Fortunately, we have 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 can sweat regularly will help detox your liver in tandem with drinking more fluids and water. You can add some lemon in your water to help support liver detoxification. This can be a perfect time to do a 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.
Remember that in every season food is medicine.
Eating fresh and in season produce at your local farmers market is ideal, with an emphasis on leafy greens, lettuces, sprouts, and live vital foods. These foods are associated with freshening, cleansing, and building the body. Eating more green foods increases the intake of chlorophyll into our systems and our blood. This is extremely beneficial in oxygenating and purifying our blood which reduces systemic inflammation. This can be accomplished by taking a supplement or simply by eating more green foods.
"Whoever wishes to investigate medicine should proceed thus: In the first place first consider the seasons of the year and what effect each of them produces." –Hippocrates
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.
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, weeds, and stagnant patterns.
This season is a time for creativity and self-expression just waiting to be sprouted into the world!
