Chinese Medicine and the Spring Season
Spring is the season of growth, regeneration, increased activity, and new beginnings. The transition from winter to spring can allow us to get more done and spend more time outside. Generally, spring is a time for rebirth and growth from winter dormancy, especially for those living in places with colder, darker winters. Most of us look forward to the spring’s warmer weather and longer days. As everything around us blossoms in the sun, so too should we embrace this renewal.
As with any seasonal change, we must pay close attention to our body’s needs during this time of seasonal change. Moving from the sleepy indoor coldness of winter and into the warm, active spirit of spring can be tough on your system when not handled with care. For many, spring months also bring allergies, high blood pressure, headaches, sinus pain, congestion, anger, irritation, and tendon problems. Many of these problems are attributed to increased Wind in the environment. In Chinese medicine, Wind is known as the “Chief of 100 Diseases”. Ailments that are caused by Wind, can be addressed and diminished using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the many modalities it incorporates.
Chinese Medicine places emphasis on living in tune with the seasons. TCM theory divides the year into five seasons! The five seasons are associated with qualities that both external and also within our bodies. These elements interact daily, creating balance and harmony — or stirring up chaos within the body.
TCM associates spring with the liver and gallbladder. The gallbladder governs decision-making and controls the body’s ligaments, while the liver is in charge of detoxification and keeping the energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”) flowing smoothly. If the liver Qi is is blocked, someone may experience frustration, anger, tight ligaments, constipation, and headaches, so it’s essential to keep your Qi healthy and flowing. Often, winter months leave us with stagnant feelings in relationships, work, and our bodies. If we experience frustration, physical pain, or sadness, it may be a sign that energy is not flowing optimally. The liver and gallbladder are also related to the tendons, storing blood during rest periods and releasing it to the tendons during times of activity. Because this pair of organs are responsible for the smooth flow of Qi and blood throughout the body, our daily activities should reflect this.
Ways to Balance Your Liver and Gallbladder
Stretch daily. Regular stretching is a great way to start and end the day. Adding yoga or tai chi to your daily routine can be very beneficial for the liver, tendons, and the body as a whole.
Enjoy the Outdoors. Spending more time outdoors is another easy and powerful way to strengthen the liver and gallbladder energies in the spring. Enjoying the warmer sun and fresh air is a simple way to boost your Qi and enhance your mood also a simple way to boost your moo and fresh air is also significant to boost energy. Consider taking a brisk walk, an outside yoga class, visiting a park, a bike ride, or fly a kite!
Eat more greens. Eating fresh leafy greens is supportive of the liver’s detoxification function and can also help strengthen vision, thanks to the vitamins and nutrients in these veggies. And luckily, fresh greens are abundantly available in springtime!
Understand the elements. In TCM, spring is associated with the element of wood. When a person is completely balanced, transitioning from one season to another doesn’t feel like a big deal. However, knowing what elemental type you are can be beneficial in determining how you will react to each passing season.
Get your seasonal tune-up. To keep the liver and gallbladder working smoothly, things like acupuncture, herbal formulas, nutritional counseling can make a world of difference. Acupuncture can balance the body as it reacts to the changes in the weather and activity levels. Regular acupuncture treatments have also been shown to boost immunity. Spring can also cause flare-ups associated with seasonal allergies, and acupuncture treatments can help with the inflammation, sneezing, runny nose, chest congestion, and watery eyes accompanying allergic reactions. But most of all, acupuncture can help regulate those emotional imbalances that are often common during this transitional period.
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